OLD SCHOOL – Raquel Hinkley painted “old school” on the street this week. The class of 2009 is the last class to graduate from the
“old school,” as seniors to come will graduate from the “new” school addition currently being built south of the junior high school.
Looking on were Monica Lozano, left, David Brotherton and Miriam Nuñez.
SANDERSON – The debate over a proposed “convention center” in Sanderson heated up at a special called meeting of the Commissioners
Court last week.
A group of citizens proposed that the court “consider” purchasing the Kerr building for $365,000 and use that for
the convention center rather than a new building on land the court has acquired two blocks east.
County Judge Leo Smith opposed the
idea.
“It’s a good deal,” County Attorney Marsha Monroe said. “In Marathon, the Gage [Hotel] is a show stopper. Kerr’s could be ours
and the Kerr building is part of our heritage.”
“All we are asking for is time, time to have a structural inspection done,” Leila Cash
said. “The people are only asking that Kerr’s be looked at as an option.”
Smith described the idea as a “pipe dream” and said it was
not an option.
Commissioner Yolanda Lopez, who chairs a convention center committee, said she has a plan and would like to move forward
with it. She also opposes the Kerr building.
The meeting at one point included a threatened fight when Commissioner Charles Stegall accosted Smith.
After Smith sharply responded to a comment by Monroe, Stegall said he would fight Smith if he ever spoke to his wife
that way.
The court eventually moved to give the citizens 60 days before voting on the issue.
It was a compromise. The Kerr Building
backers had asked for 90 days. Smith wanted to move immediately.
He later told the News Leader the delay would provide time for a professional engineer and/ or architect to see what the Kerr Building would require.
“My concern is with the splitting of the already purchased property,” Cash told the News Leader after the meeting.
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
Tomorrow is graduation day
SANDERSON – If all passed their final exams this week, ten Sanderson High School seniors and five Marathon
Mustangs will don cap and gown tomorrow night and become high school graduates.
It is a particularly nostalgic time for Sanderson graduates. The class of 2009 will be the last to graduate from the old 1931 High School building.
Read more...FLYIN’ HIGH – Jesse Roberts soared through the air last week at the Elementary Field Day. He was the only fifth-grade boy at the event. After working up an appetite at the field, all kids headed for Bicentennial Park for their annual Field Day picnic.
Nichols delegate to institute
AUSTIN – Sanderson teacher Trisha Nichols has been selected to participate in “The U.S. Constitution
and American History,” a summer institute sponsored by Humanities Texas, the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at
Austin and the LBJ Library and Museum.
Nichols, who teaches Texas history, world geography, government and economics at Sanderson Junior High School, will attend the institute at the LBJ Library and Museum in Austin next month.
Read more...July 4 will be on July 4
SANDERSON – The Fourth of July celebration here will be somewhat unique this year. It will be on the Fourth
of July.
By a happenstance that only happens every half dozen years, the day the United States celebrates its birthday falls on Saturday this year.
Read more...Daniel, Jalen advance in history fair
AUSTIN – Daniel Luevano and Jalen Chriesman of Sanderson Junior High School advanced to
the finals at the State History Fair here this month.
The duo presented a Website on our 33rd president entitled “Harry S Truman and his lasting legacy.”
Read more...SANDERSON – Tumbleweed Smith of Big Spring, whose column Texas Tales appears in newspapers throughout the state including the News
Leader, was here Monday selling books and CDs he had done and interviewing local “characters.”
He also produces a syndicated radio program, “The Sound of Texas.”
Read more...By KIM RAPP
News Leader Production Manager
SANDERSON – Tyler Cantu came calling last weekend to visit Dad Albert Cantu with wife Heather and
two baby girls in tow.
Four-year-old Juliana and one-year-old Jocelyn made the trip from El Paso with Mom & Dad.
Tyler works as
a financial clerk for Amtrak while Heather works for a customer service company.
While here, the family hiked the Cactus Capital Hiking Trail, played basketball with friends and simply relaxed.
Read more...Fair booth to feature West Texas
DALLAS – This year will be the seventh for a cooperative booth promoting Big Bend, Texas Mountains
and Far West Texas as a travel destination at the Texas State Fair Sept. 25 to Oct. 18.
The cooperative efforts are organized by Brewster County Tourism and other partners are the City of Van Horn and City of Fort Stockton.
Read more...SANDERSON -- Funding by the Piñon Foundation has allowed six Sanderson High School Students to have their IC3 Certification – for
Internet and Computing Core Certification.
“Global, broad-based IC3 Certification verifies candidates possess the accepted standard level of basic computer and Internet literacy and are more efficient and marketable,” the Certiport website says. “This is the ideal certification for anyone that wants to demonstrate critical computer and Internet skills valued in today’s academic and profession environments. IC3 standards meet the technology requirements of the No Child Left Behind legislation in multiple areas.”
Read more...SANDERSON – Ron Valdez and Pat Rivera displayed a huge trophy to those at the weekly senior luncheon this week.
The trophy, awarded
last week by the Area Agency on Aging of Midland, was engraved with the words, “Best Senior Center. What we do makes a difference.”
Valdez
or Rivera usually drive the county’s senior citizens to Fort Stockton, Alpine or sometimes Del Rio for shopping or appointments.
Last week, Valdez loaded nine of them and went to the Horseshoe Arena in Midland for the Annual Senior Celebration.
Read more...Remember the remembering
SANDERSON – Memorial Day is about remembering and Doris Tollett of Sanderson found a 1944 story in the Sanderson
Times about a Veterans Day service and provided it to the News Leader.
“Memorial Services Sunday Morning at H.S. Auditorium.
“A memorial service honoring those men who lost their lives in the defense of their country during World War I and II was held Sunday morning, November 11, at the High School Auditorium.
Read more...SANDERSON – The American Legion Post 160 here honored two members of the Legion Auxiliary for “many years of hard work and dedication to Post 160” last week.
“Henry Beth Hogg and Margaret Farley have been instrumental in keeping the post and its auxiliary going through some often trying times,” Legion Adjutant Bill Hawn said. “They were surprised and delighted to receive the certificates of appreciation which were signed by two Post officers and two Auxiliary officers.”
Read more...‘Visitor Guide’ back on
SANDERSON – The Chamber of Commerce Tuesday agreed to ask Terrell County Commissioners to approve $3,092.50
more for printing of the Terrell County Visitor Guide, which had been expected earlier this year.
The court earlier approved $6,525 for 10,000 of the guides but when they were delivered last month, they were considered “unacceptable.”
Read more...SHEFFIELD – “Gone Fishing” is a popular dream of many and children from Sanderson, Iraan, Sheffield and other surrounding communities got that chance this month.
The Kid Fish event at The Nature Conservancy of Texas was May 16 at the Independence Creek Preserve.
Read more...Co-op seeks opinions
BRACKETTVILLE – Rio Grande Electric Cooperative is encouraging local members to stop by a co-op’s office during
the month of June to express their views on the challenges consumers face with regard to electric energy pricing and possible shortages.
“Our Energy Our Future” is a national grassroots effort spear-headed by cooperatives to bring about awareness of the tough issues.
Read more...SANDERSON – Uncles of Sanderson, which had dispensed Shamrock gasoline and snacks from its east Sanderson location, will be known as “Fina” as soon as new equipment is installed.
The popular service station and convenience store will replace its Shamrock pumps with red, white and blue Fina pumps, complete with 24-hour “pay at the pump” facilities.
Read more...HISTORY LESSON – Tumbleweed Smith was in Sanderson Monday selling his books and CDs and interviewing local people. Among the interviews
in the News Leader office was retired school teacher Margaret Farley.
ALL IN THE FAMILY – Albert Cantu had visitors over Memorial Day weekend. Pictured from left are Albert, Juliana, Heather, Tyler and
baby Jocelyn.
TEAM TROPHY – Ron Valdez and Pat Rivera showed off a trophy they got from the Area Agency on Aging of Midland this week. They got
the trophy last week in Midland and showed it off at the senior luncheon this week. Looking on, from left, were Tony Calzada, Maria
Guadarrama, Edelmira Calzada, Valdez, Rivera and Lupe Mejia.
NOW CERTIFIED – Six Sanderson High School have received IC3 certification, thanks to funding from the Piñon Foundation. Newly certified
kids, from left, are Darren Seidel, Sarah Sivils, Blakeney Chriesman, Jacob Benavidez, Jessica Garza and Raquel Hinkley.
HONORED – Margaret Farley, second from left, and Henry Beth Hogg were honored by the American Legion for “many years of hard work
and dedication” for the legion. Presenting the award were Adjutant Bill Hawn, left and Auxiliary President Sheryl Autrey.
I’M READY – Adam Aguilar, the son of Sanderson Game Warden Saul and Marcy Aguilar, was set for a day of angling this month. Adam and
some 200 others took part in the annual Kid Fish at the Nature Conservancy’s Independence Creek Preserve.
OUT WITH THE OLD – Sandy Solum and Gennie Merrifield posed by the old Shamrock gas pumps at Uncles of Sanderson this week. The service
station and convenience store will become a Fina station just as soon as the equipment is installed. The new pumps will feature a
24-hour “pay at the pump” provision.
RAPPS NO MORE – The Rapp family, from left, are Jimmy, Bobbi, Robert, Kim and Daniel. The Rapps lived here for 12 years raising their
kidos. Kim and Jimmy are the last two to go and they will leave at the end of summer.
By KIM RAPP
News Leader Production Manager
SANDERSON – I have lived here for 12 years. My youngest child, Jimmy, will graduate as salutatorian
tomorrow so, at the end of summer, my husband will drag me out of here kickin’ and screamin,’
Robert and I moved into town with 10-year-old Bobbi, eight-year-old Daniel and six-year-old Jimmy.
Read more...LIKE THIS – Linda Morman demonstrated how to use chopsticks last weekend. She is former missionary to Japan who spoke of her experiences
at the First Baptist Church. Morman is the fiancé of John Cates, son of Johnnie Cates of Sanderson.
COUSINS – Ruben Rosas of Sanderson entertained cousin Luis Ibarra and his wife Cindy of Del Rio this week. Luis and Cindy were en
route to San Diego, CA, where Luis will report to Camp Pendleton where he will get to experience “boot camp.”
NEAR AND FAR – Visitors came from a wide area for a graduation party Sunday for Sanderson High School senior Jimmy Rapp. Among the
visitors were, from left, Andy Milstead and his mom Gigi Calvert and Christopher Lucas, all of Katy, and John De La Garza of Del Rio.
SNAKES ALIVE – Herpetologist Roy Engeldorf of Sanderson showed off his reptile expertise to children at a Kid Fish event at Independence
Creek this month. Engeldorf keeps several specimens of snakes in an exhibit at his Outback Oasis Motel.
