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Maps, lights to get help
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By
ANNA La FLEUR News
Leader Writer SANDERSON —
There may be some help from Washington with the need for airport lighting
improvements and updating of flood plain maps in Terrell County. US Rep. Ciro Rodriguez
passed through Sanderson Saturday and talked to a small group on a variety of
topics at the RoundHouse Café. He had visited
Terlingua and Redford Saturday after appearing with Interior Secretary Ken
Salazar at Big Bend National Park Friday. Rodriguez said
he may be able to help find funding for a lighting upgrade at Terrell County
Airport to get it into compliance with federal requirements. Engineer John
Landgraf of Odessa, who has been working on “compliance” issues for the
county, said the airport needs to upgrade the runway lighting system and
beacon, which now must be left on all night. He estimated
it would cost $500,000 for the upgrades. Rodriguez said
he also might be able to help find funding for an update to flood plain maps
that were not amended after a series of dams were constructed upstream in
Sanderson Canyon. A major flood
in 1965 caused extensive damage and killed 26 people. The US Soil
Conservation Service later built 11 dams and an improved channel, removing
most of Sanderson from the 100-year flood plain. They were
completed in the 1980s but the Federal Emergency Management Agency never
updated its maps and people have had to pay more for flood insurance since. “If we can get
FEMA the proper documents, we can be well on our way,” County Judge Leo Smith
told Rodriguez. A graduate
hydrology class from the University of Texas at Austin was to be in town this
week to study the flood plain and dams to help upgrade the maps. Rodriguez
asked all who attended the meeting to introduce themselves. Tony and
Edelmira Calzada, Terry “Tex” Toler, Sharon Wolfe, Katherine Elmer, Michelle
Marquez, Smith, this reporter and a few late arrivals were present at the
meeting. Rodriguez
discussed issues that involved energy, “earmarks,” the “Stimulus” bill,
healthcare reform and library upgrades, among others. He also spoke
about improvements at Sanderson Clinic, the revolving fund for economic
development, transferring the old Border Patrol building to the county and
tourism to Sanderson. “We try to reach
out to everybody,” he said. “We attend about 100 ‘coffees’ like these in two
years.” Talk then
focused on the old Southern Pacific Railroad depot, which Smith said is
slated for demolition before the end of the year. There are efforts
to obtain private funding to restore the historic building, which has sat
idle for many years. Rodriguez
offered to help on other federal matters like income taxes or anything else
constituents are dealing with. “I am a social
worker by profession,” he said. Concerning
healthcare reform now pending a House vote on the Senate bill, he predicted
it would pass. “It will cost
us $4.4 trillion if we don’t do something soon to fix healthcare,” Rodriguez
said. He was adamant that the bill would help the situation the US healthcare
system is in. Rodriguez said
he and Salazar spoke about projects at Big Bend that have been funded through
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as well as efforts to
promote international cooperation on conservation efforts. Rodriguez
recently announced $10.5 million in “Stimulus” funding for Big Bend that he
said is creating jobs under President Obama’s economic recovery plan. The two also
strongly supported expanded international cooperation between Mexico and the United
States in conserving and managing the unique natural areas on both sides of
the border, including the potential establishment of a Big Grande/Rio Bravo
International Park. “The
investments at Big Bend under the President’s economic recovery plan are
paying off both in terms of getting Americans back to work and upgrading the
facilities at one of our great national parks,” Salazar said Friday. “Thanks
to the work being done here, visitors will enjoy a better park and a more
enjoyable experience.” Salazar and
his Mexican counterpart Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada also are considering a
proposal to establish an international park along the US-Mexico border. Added to the
Santa Elena Canyon and Maderas del Carmen Protected Areas, the recent
designation of the Ocampo protected area and the Monumento Natural del Rio
Bravo form a Mexican complex that, together with Big Bend National Park and
the designation of the Rio Grande as a “Wild and Scenic River,” comprise one
of North Americas largest and most important conservation areas. AUSTIN
– With the recent escalation of murders in northern Mexico and the increasing
threat of violence crossing over into neighboring border communities, Gov.
Rick Perry has ordered activation of the first phase of the state’s spillover
violence contingency plan. “With
the growing threat of violence in Mexico spilling over the border, we have
taken important measures to increase the law enforcement presence along the
Texas border and have placed additional resources on standby to combat any
potential situation,” Perry said. “It is imperative that the federal
government immediately provide additional resources to prevent spillover
violence, but with the safety of Texans on the line, we can’t afford to
wait.” The
state plan is law enforcement sensitive and will not be released to the
public for operational security purposes. Perry
sent a letter to US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano last week
asking the federal government to use Predator Unmanned Air Vehicles for
missions over the Texas-Mexico border. Napolitano
said Tuesday she was considering the request. The
aircraft would provide an additional surveillance element, supplying valuable
information to local, state and federal law enforcement along the border. Currently
the three Predators assigned to the southwest border are based in and
operating exclusively in Arizona. Perry
said he has asked the Department of Public Safety, in coordination with local
and federal law enforcement along the Texas-Mexico border, to implement
critical elements of the state plan. The
steps include increased surveillance of border activity by state and local
law enforcement, the Texas Border Security Operations Center and the Joint
Operational and Intelligence Centers to ensure the timely sharing of
intelligence information, increased ground, air and maritime patrol presence
and increased intensity of day and night DPS helicopter patrol operations
along the Rio Grande, as well as National Guard helicopters to support aviation
missions. Additional
resources ready for rapid deployment have been placed on standby, including
DPS SWAT teams and Trooper Strike Teams, as well as Ranger recon teams
prepared to reposition based on threat. “Texas
has a unique cultural and economic relationship with Mexico and we are
committed to a common interest of shutting down these criminal enterprises,”
Perry said. “We will continue to closely monitor this situation and take any
necessary action to ensure the safety of our citizens and to protect
continued legitimate cross-border trade and travel. “Over
the weekend, more innocent people fell victim to the increasingly ruthless
Mexican drug cartels, including the murder of a pregnant American woman and
her American husband in Juarez,” he said Monday. “How many Americans will
have to die before our federal government takes serious action along the
Texas-Mexico border? As
a result of the increase in violence, the Texas Department of Public Safety
has urged all Texas students to avoid traveling to border cities in Mexico
during spring break and extra troopers will be on patrol as a precaution. Since
January, 2008, a reported 4,700 homicides have been committed across the
border from El Paso in Ciudad Juarez, making it one of the most violent
cities in the world, Perry said. Sales
tax receipts higher in March AUSTIN
– Terrell County sales tax receipts bucked a statewide trend and headed
sharply back up this month after several months in decline, figures released
last week show. County
tax receipts reported in March were $103,715.03, up almost 81 percent from
the $57,323.27 reported in March, 2009. Taxes
reported in March were collected in February on sales made in January. Terrell
County Treasurer Lynda Helmers said most of the increase for this period was
from an “adjustment” after settlement of a claim. The
sharp decline for the year was still reflected in a 24.5 percent decrease for
the year to date, down from $164,706.90 to $124,311.42. Statewide,
tax receipts were still down but not by as much as recent reporting periods. Texas
Comptroller Susan Combs said the state collected $1.60 billion in sales tax
revenue in February, down 8.8 percent compared to February 2009. “After
eight straight months of double digit declines, sales tax losses have begun
to moderate,” Combs said. “Sales tax revenue continues to be down in major
sectors such as retail, oil and gas production and construction. “However,
there was a slight uptick in the manufacturing sector,” she said. “We
will keep monitoring the revenue and, as we have recently noted, we expect
further declines in the near term before a return to sales tax revenue growth
later this year.” Combs
said she delivered $404.4 million in March sales tax payments to Texas
cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts.
Local
sales tax allocations were down 6.7 percent compared to March 2009. So far
this calendar year, local sales tax allocations were down 8.4 percent
compared to the first three months of 2009. SANDERSON
– When voters across the state went to the polls in the Primary Elections
March 2, it was not all over until the November General Election. There
still are three undecided races in Terrell County and others across the state
that will be decided in a runoff election Tuesday, April 13. Places
on the Democratic and Republican ballots were chosen at a drawing at the
County Clerk’s office here Monday. In
the only local race in the Democratic Primary, Anna Barron drew first
position on the ballot for county treasurer. Leila Cash drew place two. The
winner will replace Lynda Helmers who did not run for re-election. There
are two races undecided for Terrell County Republicans. First
up in the race for US Representative in District 23 is Francisco “Quico”
Canseco. Will Hurd is the second name on the ballot. The
winner will face Democrat US Rep. Ciro Rodriguez in November. And
in the statewide race for Supreme Court Justice, Place 3, Rick Green is first
and Debra Lehrmann is second. The
Democratic Party County Convention will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow, March 20, at
the Bicentennial Park Pavilion. The public is invited. “We
have a slot to attend the 2010 State Democratic Convention June 24 to 26 is
Corpus Christi,” County Chairman Lea Hawn said. “It is possible we will have
other state delegates visiting our community on this day.” The
Republican County Convention will also be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Library. Early
voting is during normal business hours including the noon lunch hour April 5
to 9 at the Courthouse. ALPINE
– Brewster County Judge candidate Avinash Rangra submitted a petition
Saturday for recount of the electronic ballots cast in the Brewster county
judge race on March 2. “The
defect in candidate Rangra's petition for recount has been remedied and the
petition accepted,” Democratic County Chair Dale Christophersen said
Tuesday. “County Clerk Berta Martinez is making arrangements for the
conduct of the requested recount no later than March 23.” Rangra
lost to incumbent County Judge Val Beard 1,078 to 723 in the March 2
Democratic Primary. There
was no opposition in the November General Election, though independents and
write-in candidates can still file. Christophersen
said the recount is of only the votes cast in that race using the Direct
Recording Electronic equipment. Rangra
requested a manual recount of the electronic votes. “It
may be of interest to voters to know that it appears that approximately 79
percent of those voting in this race chose to use paper ballots rather than
the DRE machines,” Christophersen said. “This could be viewed as a
compliment to those who chose paper but I wouldn't want to criticize those
choosing the machine. “Given
what I regard as the outrageous costs to the county and state, cities, school
and hospital districts, etc., to program these machines for every
election, I certainly would like to encourage some public spirited
citizen to take on the project of pursuing the demise of the vendor ES&S by
legislative action,” he said. “I will be happy to assist in such a
project. “I
am not a Luddite but someone's pockets are getting far too well-lined,”
Christophersen said. “Federal and state law, at present, require that
the machines be made available to voters at every polling place.” St.
James Church hosts ‘Jesus Rally’ SANDERSON
– The St. James Catholic Church here had a “Jesus Rally” last weekend. Sister
Luz and Sister Margie made the trip from the diocese in El Paso and were
joined by “about 40 kids, counting help from the [Sanderson] Junior High and
High School,” said Diana Escamilla of Sanderson. There
were games, skits on Bible stories, singing and finger painting, all based on
Jesus Christ and his teachings. For
lunch the group ate hot dogs and chips, before diving in to more activities. Escamilla
said the two sisters plan to return in May to host a Confirmation Retreat,
welcoming youth from other towns like Fort Stockton. SANDERSON
— Mike Sanchez and son Mikey Sanchez, both of Sanderson, took first place at
the Border Patrol Horseshoe Tournament at Bicentennial Park here Saturday. Cisco
Lopez of Sanderson and Marcus Galvan of Fort Stockton were second in the
tournament. Third
place went to Sanderson Border Patrol Agents brothers Geno and Gabe Vega. Families
and friends gathered at the park Saturday morning for games, food and fun in
the sun with horseshoes, a cake walk and a cake raffle. The
first place winner of the cake raffle was Fernando Sanchez, a Border Patrol Agent. Tanya
Tate of Sanderson won second place and Willie McAnally won third. The
concession stand at the tournament provided food, drinks and snacks for sale. The
Border Patrol Station here provided the tourney to raise money to help agents
and their families in times of need. If
an agent is injured or killed in the line of duty or a family member gets
injured or sick, this money will go towards sending flowers to the family or
plane tickets. “It
is just something that our station is doing, not a new thing other stations
are doing,” Robert “Chip” Zuniga said. BIG
BEND – Those interested in management of non-native, exotic plants and
animals in Big Bend National Park will have an opportunity to express their
views at public scoping meetings and to provide written comments. Meetings
for the public to help identify issues, concerns, and other comments will be
at the Brewster County Multi-Purpose Facility in Study Butte Tuesday, March 23,
and the Morgan Conference Center at Sul Ross State University in Alpine
Wednesday, March 24. Both meetings
will be from 6 to 7 p.m. The
meetings complement a 30-day initial public scoping period that began last
week and ends April 10. To
protect the park’s natural and cultural resources from the impacts of exotic
species, the park proposes to develop and implement plans for managing
trespass livestock, exotic animals and exotic plants. National
Park Service policies direct that exotic species be managed if control is
prudent and feasible and the exotic species interferes with natural processes
and the perpetuation of natural features, native species or natural habitats. In
addition to livestock, primarily horses and burros, the park has identified
feral hogs, Barbary sheep, saltcedar, giant cane, buffelgrass and other
non-native species as threats to the natural and cultural resources the park
is required to protect. Comments
submitted during this initial public scoping period will be considered during
preparation of the plans and EAs. Comments
may be submitted via the National Park Service Planning, Environment and
Public Comment web site at parkplanning.nps.gov/bibe
or in writing at the scheduled public meetings. Those
without web access may mail comments to Superintendent, PO Box 129, Big Bend
National Park, TX 79834. By ANNA La FLEUR News Leader Writer SANDERSON
— The Rise Across Texas Challenge bicycle tour faced its share of challenges
on the leg that ended here Tuesday. Of
the 20 cyclists who set out from the Texas/Louisiana border March 6 for the
ride to Presidio, only about a dozen reached Sanderson and those that did had
a passel of problems. The
tour started in Orange and was scheduled to arrive in Presidio today, March
19. Motivated
by the physical challenge and the desire to see Texas from the seat of a
bike, the cyclists also are driven by the mission of the ride, to raise funds
for the nonprofit Rise Schools of Texas. Kevin
Livingston, six-time Tour de France rider and US national champion, trained
the riders for their venture. Along
the way, the cyclists stopped in Sanderson Tuesday, where they overnighted at
the Outback Oasis Motel. Only
about 12 cyclists arrived here because others in the group were not able to
withstand the journey. Mandy
Myers, the director at a Rise School in Austin, was part of the group. Others
were Ben Bollman, Steve Hicks, son Robert Hicks, Jim Crow, Bob Cowley, Chris
Slover, State Sen. Rodney Ellis, State Rep. Carol Alvarado, Diane Humphreys
and Nancy and Frank Krenek. Tuesday
was the longest trek on the ride and the group had to change 18 tires along
the way that day. The
crew ran out of tires and Nancy Krenek walked two of the miles because she
was determined not to drop out. “While
on the ride, riders had to face a lot of high wind and cold along with
pelting rain,” Marketing and Communications Responder Marilyn Carter said. “In
the Hill Country, they faced hail but the team kept riding through it,” she
said. “Most of the trip, the riders remained wet due to the weather and
getting splashed by motorists.” Funds
raised will support the therapeutic and educational services offered at the
Texas Rise Schools, including physical, speech and music therapies. Supporting
the Rise Schools of Texas will ensure the Texas continues to have the highest
quality of educational and therapeutic services available for children with
and without developmental disabilities, the sponsors said in a press release.
The
school has campuses in Dallas, Houston, Corpus Christi and Austin. Its
nationally recognized program has resulted in children’s achievements beyond
previous expectations, the website says. They
provide childhood and preschool education and services to children with
special needs. Rise Schools serve
children ages six months to six years. A
celebration was planned along the way at the Marfa home of Honorary Ride
Captain Lance Armstrong. William
first at West Texas Relays ODESSA
– William Roberts of Sanderson won two first-place ribbons as the Eagles
competed in the West Texas Relays Friday and Saturday. William
won the 3,200-meter run with a time of 10:19.07 and the 1,600-meter with a
time of 7:46.95 in the second division. David
Shoemaker placed second in shot put with a distance of 42 feet two inches and
third in discus with a heave of 119 feet 11 inches. Jacob
Benavidez placed second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.55 and third
in the 400-meter run with a time of 54.04. In
the first division of boys track and field, Travis Roberts was third in the
3,200-meter run with a time of 9:57.64 and fourth in the 1,600-meter with a
time of 4:30.63. Noemi
Nuñez was the only girl to compete in the West Texas Relay. She
placed third in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 13:06 and fourth in the
1,600-meter with a time of 5:57. By STEVE LANG Sul Ross News and Publications ALPINE
– A host of returning players, numerous promising newcomers and the first
female professional baseball player signed in this century highlight 2010
prospects for the Big Bend Cowboys independent minor league baseball team. The
new and condensed, travel-wise version of the Continental Baseball League
opens a 60-game regular season schedule – including 44 home games – Thursday,
May 6. The
Cowboys, runners up in last year’s league championship series, host the Las
Cruces Vaqueros in a 7 p.m. contest at Alpine’s historic Kokernot Field, the
first of a four-game set. Other
members of the four-team league are the Desert Valley Mountain Lions and the
West Texas Road Hogs, travel teams based in Van Horn. “The
excitement the Cowboys generated in their first season has carried over,”
General Manager J.R. Smith said. “Manager Donnie Randell will be returning,
as well as a number of players.” The
Cowboys ranked second in attendance to the playoff champion Alexandria, LA,
Aces in 2009, averaging more than 400 fans per contest. A
17-3 July homestand pushed Big Bend into playoff contention and they
eventually finished fourth in a close race with a 36-24 record. Seven
Cowboys batted over .300 for the campaign, topped by Eric Williams, who was
recently signed by the AA Wichita Wingnuts. He led the loop with a .365 mark.
Recently,
the Cowboys signed first baseman-relief pitcher Tiffany Brooks of Spokane,
WA. Brooks
will become the first female professional player in America in the new
century. Also
joining the Cowboy roster this season is outfielder Trey George, a 2009
All-Star with Texarkana, who batted .337 and led the loop with 61 runs batted
in. A
number of other top prospects have also inked contracts and will be at spring
training, scheduled April 30 to May 4 at Kokernot Field. New
to the coaching staff is pitching coach Ryan Stevens, who served as a
pitching coach, base coach and assistant scouting director for the Texarkana
Gunslingers the past two years. Season
tickets are on sale for $270.63, including sales tax, for chair-back seats and
$216.50 including tax for bleacher seats. Single-game
tickets are $7.50 for chair-backs and $6.50 for bleacher seats. For
more information, contact Smith at 432/ 837-BOYS (2697) or visit the Cowboys
website at www.bigbendcowboys.com. FORT
STOCKTON – The US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development department
will conduct a series of rural business roundtable discussions next week
including one in Sanderson. The
business resource roundtable meetings in rural communities across the region
are designed to equip businesses with a roadmap for success. “Partners
for Progress” - Rural Business Development Roundtable Discussions is a
partnership of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, USDA Rural
Development, US Small Business Administration, University of Texas at San
Antonio Small Business Development Center and the Texas Department of
Agriculture Rural Economic Development Division. The
Sanderson meeting will be at 8 to 9:30 a.m. March 25 at the Terrell County
Courthouse. The
purpose of the roundtable meetings is to bring together local entrepreneurs
and business leaders to discuss local and regional business and economic
issues, identify areas of need and opportunities and learn about resources
that may provide assistance, USDA said. The
sessions begin Wednesday March 24 at the Odessa College Pecos Campus, the
Monahans Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Stockton Visitor Center. After
Sanderson on Thursday, the meetings will move to Iraan City Hall. The
next week, meetings will be in Anthony, Dell City, Van Horn, Fort Davis,
Marfa, Presidio, Terlingua and Alpine. For
additional information, contact John Perkins at 432/ 336-7585, Extension 4. By ANNA La FLEUR News Leader Writer SANDERSON
– Those who read my “Cactus Chat” column may be familiar with Ed Layton. He
and his wife Marcia Knee-land come here from time to time to stay in their
home away from home in Penn Yan, NY. As
it turns out, Layton is more than the average “snow bird.” He also predicts the
Oscars. He
is a movie buff who would like to share his critiques with his friends in
Sanderson and has offered his movie reviews to the News Leader. He
said they will feature information about the new releases at the box office
before people drive at least an hour to see a movie at the theater. Layton
said he does not review movies that are gory or sexual in nature but rather
the family-friendly type. He
said he will provide a lot of background into the film makers and actors who
play the roles as well as if it is a movie to take the kids to because some
previews on the television can be misleading. Layton
gave his first review a “thumbs up.” He
said “Avatar” is the most revolutionary movie made to date. It is a 3-D
science fiction movie that James Cameron envisioned and had been fermenting
in him since adolescence. Cameron
wrote, produced and directed the film, which began production in 2004 and was
released around December. Cameron
had to travel to Japan to co-develop the 3-D digital fusion camera lenses for
the movie he envisioned. It
is a story about an alien civilization, called the Na-vi, sitting on top of
an ultra-valuable element that mankind wants to mine and uses
military-industrial-financed mercenaries to forcibly remove them from their ancestral
land. Layton
said the storyline carries the movie well but the visual feast of special
effects draws the viewer into the movie, suspends time and the viewer becomes
allied with the Na-vi, pulling for the natives with arrows and spears to
somehow be victorious against the hightech lasers, robots, space ships, guns
and real bullets. “Go
see this movie for the ending,” Layton said. “Avatar”
has replaced “Titanic” as the most expensive movie in history with production
costs of $350 million. The
movie had to gross $750 million just to break even. It managed to do that in
the first 17 days after its release. The movie grossed $1.2 billion
worldwide. Every
single pixel in this movie was computer generated and nothing except the
voices was real. Cameron
used kinesthetic electronic feedback technology on actors with electrodes
placed all over their faces and bodies to mimic expressions and movement of
the digital characters. BIG
BEND – Big Bend National Park has completed its upgrades to the exterior
lighting at the Chisos Basin to reduce light pollution, reduce energy
consumption and provide better and safer illumination for visitors. The
Chisos Basin work marks the completion of the second of four phases that will
retrofit all exterior light fixtures within the park, a collaborative effort
with the National Park Service and a Best Lighting Practices grant with Musco
Lighting. The
work was also funded by a grant from the Friends of Big Bend National Park
and American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds. Forever
Resorts, Inc., contributed labor resources and made other donations to the
project. The
project is among the first of its kind in the National Park System in its
scope and through this grant. The
Chisos Basin phase consisted of the retrofit of existing exterior lighting
including building and path lighting, with new Light Emitting Diode
fixtures. The
new LED fixtures use technology that provide comparable light with
substantially less electricity, have an average life of 50,000 hours and
provide a natural moon-glow color-rendering effect. The
LED fixtures are less than one watt each and replace 60W incandescent and
fluorescent lamps. The annual energy costs of lighting for the equipment that
was replaced at Chisos Basin will be $164 with the new system compared to
$3,293 for the old system. The
project included the entire lodging area, restaurant, and amphitheater area. The
path lighting between the amphitheaters and campgrounds at Rio Grande Village
and Cottonwood has also been completed. The
entire Chisos Basin phase results in a 98 percent reduction in wattage,
energy consumption and greenhouse emissions. “Big
Bend has some of the best night skies in the country,” a park release said. “The
most significant source of light pollution in Big Bend was actually from
light sources within the park,” it said. “This project has eliminated this
light pollution and significantly improved the quality of Big Bend's night
skies.” The
release said before the project, visitors could not see all of the stars now
visible and the “spillover of the exterior lighting” actually cast shadows on
the mountains around the basin. “Now,
the night skies are clearly visible,” the park release said. The
first phase, which re-lamped the exterior lighting at the Panther Junction
Visitor Center and gas station, was completed in June, 2009. The
lighting project now enables the park to qualify as an International Dark Sky
park. "This
is a great project that we wanted to celebrate tonight,” Superintendent
William Wellman said at a dedication ceremony. “The
amount of energy that will now be used to light the Chisos Basin is now a
tiny fraction of the energy used with the old style lights. “So
from an environmental standpoint and a sustainability standpoint, it’s a
really good project,” he said. “You just do not get that many projects that
have this wide a range of benefits. “So
I think this one is really worth celebrating,” he said. “We are proud to be
working in concert with surrounding towns and agencies to improve the quality
of the night skies in the Big Bend region." The
city of Alpine adopted a lighting ordinance in 2000 to reduce light pollution
and is working on revisions to the lighting ordinance to further reduce light
pollution. McDonald
Observatory and Fort Davis have long been proactive in reducing light spill
in the Big Bend area. For
more information including a video and pictures of the park project, visit
the webpage http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parknews/newsreleases.htm By MARK GLOVER Contributing Editor BIG
BEND - Coinciding with a $10.4 million federal grant to the Big Bend National
Park, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and US Rep. Ciro Rodriguez visited
Panther Junction Friday to discuss creating a nearly three million acre
international park along the Rio Grande. Known
as the International Peace Park program, the plan would link the Big Bend
National Park with two Mexican government parcels known as Ocampo protected
area and Monumento Natural del Rio Bravo and several privately- owned, large
Mexican parcels along the river, including the Cemex-owned Sierra del Carmen. “This
is a very special place to preserve,” Salazar said as the US flag whipped in
the wind above the podium at BBNP headquarters. “An international park
creates some opportunities on how we prioritize wilderness and how we move
together between our two nations.” Salazar
said joint efforts between the Department of Interior and Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton would make sure the project receives “adequate attention.” He
said “the vision is complex” but possible, referring to the Waterton-Glacier
International Peace Park on the border between Montana and the province of
Alberta. President
Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated the challenge to create a bi-national park
effort when he wrote to Mexican president Manual Avila Camancho in 1944. “I
do not believe that this undertaking in the Big Bend [the establishment of
the national park] will be complete until the entire park area in this region
on both sides of the Rio Grande forms one great international park,"
Roosevelt wrote. Linking
private and public lands on both sides of the Rio Bravo/Rio Grande to create
the park has vexed politicians ever since. Salazar
gave credit to Rodriguez for urging him to visit the park and seeing first
hand its “beauty and uniqueness.” Rodriguez
energized the park efforts last year by initiating House Resolution 695 that
calls for discussions on the international park at high levels. “We
are actively pursuing ways to make this unique international park a reality,”
Rodriguez said. The
$10.4 million in grant funds, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act signed by President Obama last year, will be used to “create jobs in this
part of Texas,” Salazar said. “We
have our eye on the Big Bend National Park,” he said. In
today’s arena of cartel wars, drug smuggling and a closed border, the
international park idea seems improbable but Salazar’s feels his
determination may make the difference. “The
deciding factor may be whether Secretary Salazar wants to take a personal
interest in the negotiations,” Big Bend National Park Superintendent Bill
Wellman said last month. In
the post 9-11 age of increased US border security, the Department of Homeland
Security will be a significant factor in the negotiations. “In
principle, they [DHS] don’t have a problem with it,” Wellman said. “We have
to come up with a reasonable proposal that works.” “Secretary
Salazar is reaching out to [DHS] Secretary [Janet] Napolitano to push this
plan forward,” Courtney Lyons-Garcia, executive director of the Friends of
the Big Bend, said recently. “They’re
looking to get a practical plan moving forward, get it on the table, a plan
that is sustainable over the next 10 to 15 years, that not only encompasses
an international park but also works as a conservation effort to control
invasive species, protect native species and to work out flood control,”
Lyons-Garcia said. Salazar,
who grew up in the San Luis Valley near the headwaters of the Rio Grande in
southern Colorado, is no stranger to the river and the desert. He
was raised in an adobe home without electricity or plumbing and his family
relied on the high, dry terrain for food. As
the grommets on the flag chattered against the flag pole, Salazar, in a white
cowboy hat offered this final benediction. “Stay
tuned,” he said. “There’s more to come.” ALPINE
— The City of Alpine will get a grant of $419,600 as part of a program
announced this week by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs for 32 renewable energy
projects around the state. It
is the first round of federal stimulus grants as part of the Distributed
Renewable Energy Technology Program. Approximately
$32 million will go to cities, school districts, colleges and universities
and other local and state government entities in the first round of grants. More
project applications are currently undergoing federal National Environmental
Policy Act review. Recipients
will use the grants to install renewable energy infrastructure at public
facilities to generate electricity at those sites, reduce utility costs and
save tax dollars. The
projects will also increase the amount of installed renewable energy in
Texas, which backers say would reduce the demand on power plants and cut
emissions from the plants. “Some
projects offer even more benefits,” Combs said. “For example, Texas State
Technical College campuses in Waco and Harlingen will install solar panels
that will not only provide electricity but also serve as hands-on training
labs. “TSTC
plans to have students in solar energy technology programs perform efficiency
and maintenance work or other training with the panels,” she said. “This will
enhance the value of their technical career skills.” Entities
in the first round of grants will use the funds for solar power installation.
The
comptroller’s State Energy Conservation Office will administer the stimulus
grants that range from $95,000 to $2 million. The
purpose of this program is to increase the amount of installed renewable
energy in Texas and to further develop Texas' renewable energy potential,
assist in meeting the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard target of 10,000
megawatts by 2025 and advance the market for renewable technologies. The
technologies also would include biomass, geothermal, solar, water (hydro) and
wind. This
will be a statewide program and will be accomplished through a competitive
grant process for governmental entities to install and demonstrate the
effectiveness of commercially-available renewable energy technologies for
electricity generation. Governmental
entities may include units of state and local government, public schools,
public colleges and universities, public hospitals and government-owned
utilities. SANDERSON
– Seeing cross-country bicycle riders passing through town is not at all
unusual here. A
couple of bicyclers pedalled through town this week on their way to Florida,
pedalling “4Peace.” On
February 27, 71-year-old Dave Runyan, a retired United Airlines pilot from
West Chicago, IL, and friend Mike Terrones of Linden, IA, began a 3,100-mile
bike ride from San Diego, CA, to St. Augustine, FL. The
two are friends through an organization called “Camps Farthest Out.” Dave’s
wife Lana and Mike's wife Paula are on the road with them and a “support
team.” “We
left California in the rain, but haven’t seen much, a few sprinkles, lots of
wind,” Runyan told the News Leader. We
asked Lana if Dave would do this again. “If
not this, then something else, something challenging,” she said. The
ride will raise funds to support the mission of Camps Farthest Out, Camps Farthest
Out International and United Prayer Tower by raising funds to expand their
outreach through faith-based camps and retreats. Camps
Farthest Out was founded after World War I by Glenn Clark, who wanted to
address the real needs of real people living in a demoralized world, its
website says. The
program was his answer to the prayer, “Lord, what can one man do to help
bring world peace?” CFO
was created out of a great desire for world peace and originated in the
United States. In
1954, the world dream developed further, the site says. “Glenn
Clark, accompanied by Roland and Marcia Brown, took a world tour establishing
prayer centers and training centers with the CFO spirit for the encouragement
of world peace," the site says. The
group focuses on teaching, “experiencing wholeness through the teachings of
Jesus Christ and the power of living prayer – CFO International operates
through its network of Christian camps, retreats and leadership training
around the world,” the site says. CFO
International, is the international organization of CFO with camps,
retreats and prayer groups in Africa, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Latin
America and South Pacific. In
their six-week journey Runyan and Terrones will go across the “southern
transcontinental route,” covering southern sections of California, Arizona,
New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and northern Florida. Arrival
at the finish line in St. Augustine is projected for April 10. For
more information or to make a donation, check out the site at
pedal4peace.org. Writing
Roundup to be next month ALPINE
– Writers from across the state have been invited to the 19th annual Writing
Round-Up April 9, 10 and 11 here. Texas
Mountain Trail Writers of Alpine and Fort Davis will host the spring retreat
at Paisano Baptist Encampment in the mountains seven miles west of here. This
year’s speakers include children’s author Jessica Lee Anderson, writing
instructor and manuscript doctor Lucia Zimmitti, archival research
specialists Melleta Bell and Jerri Garza and newspaper man, photojournalist
and after-dinner humorist Blair Pittman. Writers
will learn how to hone their writing skills and how to write and publish
stories and books for children. They
will visit the Sul Ross State University library to learn how to do archival
research for fiction or non-fiction books and learn to tell their story in an
entertaining way. Limited
rustic lodging is available at Paisano Encampment or in motels in surrounding
towns. Catered
meals will be western “grub.” Between learning sessions, there will be
opportunities for hiking, photographing, birding, networking and recharging
spirits in the rugged Davis Mountains. Retreat
prices, which include meals, are $100 for members or $120 for non-members
signed up before March 20. A break on price is available for a household of
two. For
more information contact coordinators Reba Cross Seals at 432/837-2919 or rcrossseals@wildblue.net or Jackie
Siglin at 432/364-2399 or bakedalaska1@bigbend.net.
ODESSA
– For the next several weeks, Texans will have the opportunity to provide
suggestions to improve the way the state transportation system is planned. The
Texas Department of Transportation is soliciting comments on revisions to
department transportation planning and programming rules. The request will be
posted in the Texas Register today, March 19. The
Texas Transportation Commission created the Transportation Planning and
Project Development Rulemaking Advisory Committee on July 30, made up of 11
representatives from metropolitan planning organizations, local government,
transit organizations, tolling authorities and the Federal Highway
Administration. The
department and the advisory committee have been working on development of
draft rules in order to establish a comprehensive transportation planning and
project development program that is transparent, well-defined and
understandable. Information
gathered from public comments in response to the Texas Register Notice will
assist in development of those rules. After
the pre-review comment period, TxDOT and the advisory committee will present
draft rules to the commission for its consideration with final approval
likely later this year. The
latest version of the draft planning and programming rules may be viewed at www.txdot.gov/public_involvement/public_comment/planning_programming_input.htm. Comments
will be accepted until 5 p.m. April 19. |
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