October 31, 2008
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SANDERSON—The
Terrell County 4-H Auction here Saturday brought in a total of $34,600, bringing
more than $5,000 to the 4-H Club. “It
was a huge success and it really brought the community together for the 4-H
kids,” County Extension Agent Mark Carroll said. Some
items were donated for sale but most of the big-ticket items were on
consignment and the 4-H Club got 15 percent of the total. Carroll
said items were donated by Terrell County, Terrell County ISD, Cactus Health
Service and local citizens. More
than 20 volunteers pitched in to help with the day-long sale. “The
cars were all drug-seizure cars and the culverts were from the County Road
and Bridge Department,” Carroll said. “A lot of local volunteers helped put
it all together.” Items
for sale included six cars, several metal culverts and cattle guards, used
roofing metal and playground equipment, tires, tools, antiques and many more.
“We
are here to help the kids,” Auctioneer Kenn Norris said. Carroll said the proceeds of the sale will be
used to send 4-Hers to camp and other activities. Dell
City, Sanderson square off SANDERSON
-- The Sanderson Eagles face their final game in the 2008 regular season tonight
when the host the hungry Dell City Cougars in Eagle Stadium. The
Eagles are 5-3 overall and 2-0 in district play while the Cougars are 7-2
overall and 2-1 in the district. “Dell
City is going to come in with a mission,” Eagles Head Coach Mark Dominguez
said. “They’ve got a shot to get into playoffs and they are going to come in
ready to play. “We
have to be ready to defend the district championship in our place,” he said.
“It is our home game and if we win tonight, we are in.” Dominguez
said the bye last week was helpful in getting some players healthier. “We
looked real good yesterday,” Dominguez said Tuesday. “I was real pleased with
the effort they had and, yes, they [Eagles] looked real sharp.” Dominguez
said some of the players are still “beat up” but the week off helped heal
some of the hurts. “The
way we looked yesterday, they are ready to come back in refueled up,” he
said. Dominguez
said he hopes the team is ready to go right away. “That’s
my goal, to have a quick start,” Dominguez said. “We’re as healthy as we’re
going to be. Our kids are putting it together and getting the job done.” He
said he has not determined if he will schedule a game next week. Marathon was
scheduled but had to cancel the season when two of the six available players
were injured. If
the Eagles make the playoff, they would be off for the first round so,
without a game next week, there would be a two-week hiatus. “I
don’t like being off too long,” Dominguez said. “We are the hunted [as
defending champions] and the hunters always give us their best look.” Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Eagle Stadium. than just teenagers SANDERSON
– Peer pressure is a problem for school children but it also affects older
people and is particularly prevalent in the entertainment business. But
those urging the use of drugs or alcohol to be “cool” are really the
“un-cool” ones. That
was the message Friday of technical songwriter and recording artist Brent
Daniels of Academy Entertainment at a Red Ribbon Assembly in Sanderson High
School Auditorium. He
demonstrated what looked like a keyboard but he called it a “digital sampler.” Daniels,
a native of Oregon, worked in the music industry in Los Angeles and saw
friends and colleagues deal with drug and alcohol problems. To
start his program last week, Daniels called several elementary school students
to the stage where they danced to a pre-recorded song from his device. Then
students took turns making sounds into the device and he manipulated those
sounds into a brand new musical number. Daniels
said he was able to use the sampler to provide music and sound effects for movies,
video games and other media. He
has used his skills for movies including “Scary Movie 2,” “Charlie’s Angels”
and “Mortal Kombat Annihilation” and television shows including “CSI: Miami,”
“Modern Marvels” and “Ripley’s Believe it or Not.” He
credited education for letting him develop skills he could use in his work. He
said he didn’t like playing “Hot Cross Buns” over and over as a fourth grader
in his early piano lessons. But
six years later, he found he was able to “play the stuff I really wanted to
play.” Daniels
credited an education in classical music for his skills, even though his
usual medium is rock. He
said school children face peer pressure to use drugs and other behaviors “you
really don’t want to do” but the same thing happens in the entertainment
business. Working
for 12 years in Los Angeles, he said he was constantly under pressure from
people older than he urging him to “be cool” and use drugs or alcohol. “Along
side of the good people I worked with in LA, there were a lot of people who
didn’t make good choices,” Daniels said. “They used alcohol and drugs. “But
what they don’t know is that those are unhealthy choices and can have fatal
consequences,” he said. “It is an unhealthy choice and a very bad idea.” Daniels
said he also found a peer group that didn’t want to take drugs, those who
knew drugs were “really the un-cool thing.” It
was just as “cool” to belong to the right group as it was to the wrong one. Those
who want to get others to try drugs use a “simple but powerful argument but
it’s really a stupid argument,” he said. “You have heard that misery loves
company. They don’t feel as bad because they know they are not alone” if they
get you to destroy yourself with them. He
said his digital sampler is used to make a wide variety of sounds but its
programs can be created on a simple home computer or laptop. It
can create “everything from a piano to a monkey if you want to,” Daniels
said. “We already have real sounds and I’d rather play a real Steinway
[piano] like the one right over there” in the High School Auditorium. “It
[the sampler] can do the real stuff if you don’t have the budget to hire the
musicians,” he said. Daniels
said he was “fortunate that I got a good education. The more education you
have, the more you can do.” Using
the sampler involves more than music. He also uses math and, because he now
has his own business, he has to know about taxes and other business items. “Stay
in school and don’t use drugs,” he said. “You really can do want you want to
do.” SANDERSON
– Bill Adams of Junction became the newest addition to the Terrell County
Sheriff’s Office. He
started work last week, greeted by Sheriff Clint McDonald, also of Junction. The
appointment brings the department to full strength with the exception of a
deputy paid by a federal “Linebacker” program. The
department was increased by two officers with the new budget year that began
Oct. 1. Adams
grew up in Junction and graduated from the police academy in San Antonio in
1982. He
worked in Kendall County and Irion Counties and for the Junction Police Department
but became “semi-retired” in 2001 because of health issues. Adams
also served as an engineering technical inspector for the Texas Department of
Transportation at Snyder. “I
had been a part-time police officer and decided I wanted to go back into full
time so I came here,” he said Adams
said he was given a clean bill of health so he decided to return to full-time
work. He
is single but has two sons, one in Wisner, LA, and one in Riegelwood, NC. SANDERSON
– The adult aerobics classes will resume for the third year this fall in the
Sanderson Junior High School Library. Classes
will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, provided by Cactus Health
Services, the Texas Department of Health and Sanderson Independent School
District. “We’ve
had as few as three or four and as many as ten,” Cactus Outreach
Coordinator/participant Karen Sanchez said. “It just depends on what’s going
on in town.” The
aerobics class is part of a program called the “Wellness Program,” which
includes adult softball, Cocina Alegre cooking class, water aerobics and,
when there’s enough interest, league volleyball. The objective of the program is to educate
residents about healthy eating and exercise. with
reflective bags SANDERSON
– Sheriff Clint McDonald said this week children going “trick or treat” tomorrow
should start their campaigns at the Terrell County Sheriff’s Office. Not
only will he have plenty of candy on hand, he will also give each child a
reflective bag with “starter candy” already in it to satisfy that sweet tooth
and keep the kids safe at the same time. The
Sheriff’s Office and the Permian Basin 911 are sponsoring the bags and
starter candy. McDonald
cautioned motorists to be particularly careful tomorrow with the streets full
of very young and very eager children. “We
want everyone to have a good time,” he said. “But we also want everyone to be
safe.” ODESSA
– The Texas Department of Transportation has begun work to replace another of
the aging Pecos River bridges. Dan
Dalager, the TxDOT engineer overseeing the bridge replacement, said drivers
on FM 1776 south of Monahans will find a stoplight directing one-way traffic
during the year-long construction project. He
said motorists should observe all warning signs and watch for equipment and
workers in the construction zone. Cherokee
Bridge and Road, LTD, of Junction has a $2 million contractor for the work on
replacing the 51-year-old bridge between Monahans and Coyanosa just west of
FM 1927. The
bridge, which was originally built in 1957, was widened to its current 40-foot
width in 1979. It
is being replaced because salt contamination from the river has caused severe
deterioration and corrosion of the reinforcing steel in some of the support
columns. The
new bridge will consist of a concrete slab structure having four spans and an
overall length of 280-feet, 40 feet longer than the existing structure. The
bridge will be raised approximately two feet. The
new bridge will be constructed in half-widths to facilitate continuous
traffic so a detour will not be required, TxDOT said. The
contractor will close and demolish the southbound half of the bridge first. There
is an existing irrigation canal that runs parallel to the river under the
northernmost bridge span. TxDOT
has made arrangements with the Grandfalls Water District to avoid
interrupting the delivery of irrigation water to the farms downstream during
the irrigation season. This
is the fourth bridge that TxDOT has replaced over the Pecos River. Bridges have been replaced on State Highway 18
south of Monahans, on FM 305 south of McCamey and the Pecos River relief
structure on Business I-20 west of Barstow. DEL
RIO – Jacques De La Mota of Del Rio is the Republican nominee for judge of
the 63rd Judicial District of Texas, replacing Tom Lee, who is retiring. De La Mota is founder and sole owner of
multidisciplinary legal, accounting and tax advisory firm with a staff of
seven to 10 full-time employees, including bookkeeping clerks, accountants,
paralegals, practitioners. The
firm was established in 1989 and does accounting and bookkeeping. De
La Mota’s professional concentration has been in state and federal civil and
criminal trial practice, in addition to federal income tax reporting,
planning and representation in IRS administrative proceedings. He
claims a growing practice in federal immigration law. De La Mota said the district judge is the financial
manager for the State Court District, setting the budget and managing the payroll and expenses for the staff and court
activities for the four-county region. He said his career has given him a breadth of experience in the
complex financial and economic issues often involved in the sort of cases
that this position will have on the docket. De La Mota has practiced for more than five years in the state
and federal district courts, bankruptcy and immigration courts. He has also practiced
for four years in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. De La Mota claims to be one of only three men in the district to
be admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court. He said he will be fair, conservative and will listen well. He has promised to have the decorum a judge should have to allow
people to feel that their court experience was fair and that the law was
administered with patience and consideration. AUSTIN
– Next Tuesday is Election Day across the country and Texas Secretary of
State Hope Andrade said this week the final tally of registered voters in
Texas for the General Election is 13.5 million, up from 12.7 million
registered voters in this year’s March primaries. “I am excited about the growth we have seen statewide in voter
registrations since March,” Andrade said. “Texans recognize the importance of
this election and are already exercising their right to vote in record
numbers during early voting.” More than 2 million registered Texans cast a ballot during the
first eight days of the early voting period, which ends today, Oct. 31. “The convenience of early voting continues to be something
Texans appreciate,” Andrade said. “It is not too late to take advantage of
early voting and avoid what may be long lines on Nov. 4.” Additionally, Andrade reminded voters what they can expect when
they get to the polling place. Each polling location should be accessible to voters with
disabilities and include at least one accessible voting system. If a voter presents a voter registration certificate, he will
not be required to show another form of ID. If, however, a voter does not have a voter registration
certificate with him, he may still vote if he provides another form of
identification. A list of acceptable forms of identification is available at www.votexas.org and includes a driver
license or personal identification card issued by the Texas Department of
Public Safety, a form of identification that contains a photograph and establishes
the voter’s identity or a birth certificate or other document that confirms
birth and is admissible in a court of law to establish identity. Other acceptable forms include US citizenship papers, a US
passport, official mail addressed to the voter by name from a governmental
entity or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check,
paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and
address. If a voter’s name does not appear on the list of registered
voters, he still has a right to cast a provisional ballot, which will be
counted once it is determined the voter is eligible to vote. Andrade said her office is committed to protecting voting rights
and encourages Texans to call the voter hotline at 800/252-VOTE if they have
questions or concerns about the voting process. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Terrell
County Courthouse in Sanderson, the Community Building in Marathon and polling
places across the state. |
“It
was a great success,” he said. “A lot of people who are not normally involved
on a direct basis pitched in. There were a lot of new volunteers. “I
appreciate everyone’s help and their contributions to the leaders of
tomorrow,” Carroll said. The 4-H is a youth orga-nization administered by the Cooperative
State Research, Education and Extension Ser-vice of the US Department of Agriculture
with the mission of “engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while
advan-cing the field of youth develop-ment.” SANDERSON
– Businesses participating in the Dec. 13 “Christmas on Main Street” here
will be encouraged to do their “own thing” to attract visitors this year. The
event was the brainchild of Sandra Davis and Debbie Pruitt of ‘Tis the Reason
Gift Shop two years ago. The
business open house was repeated the next summer during the July 4
celebration and again last Christmas. To
encourage people to visit all of the businesses, a drawing was created. To
win, entrants had to get a signature at each participating business. But
too many people would stop in each business only long enough to get a signature
and then leave, defeating the purpose of the open house, which was to
acquaint people with the available services in town. “We
talked it over and Sandra suggested each business should do its own thing,”
Chamber President Jim Street said. “A business can offer its own drawing,
door prizes, something else or nothing at all.” The
Christmas on Main Street will be 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. A list of
participating businesses will be published in the News Leader prior to
the open house. In
a related action, the chamber voted to present a certificate and a $30 gift
certificate at a “hardware store” of the winner’s choice to Travis and Katie
Roberts for improvements to the Kerr Building and the former Morrison Five
and Ten at Oak and First. “This
is a new award to call attention to efforts to beautify the town,” Street
said. “It can be for a business, a residence or any other property. “And
we won’t give the award on any set timetable but only when we find something
that justifies it,” he said. The
Chamber did vote to recognize one business each month, starting with decorations
for the Christmas on Main Street this year. Because
of confusion over who would provide the Halloween celebration this year, the
chamber authorized Street to call a meeting of a representative of each of
the civic groups in town to determine which would be responsible for each of
the various events. Terrell
County Commissioners recently decreed that the Chamber would be responsible
for coordination of the Fourth of July. But
Halloween, Cinco de Mayo, Buzzard Rally and other events were very much in
doubt. “We
keep doing this to ourselves,” Street said. “Everyone is in charge so no one
is in charge.” In
other action, Bill Smith presented designs for a new “Walking and Driving
Tour” booklet that could be given to tourists pointing out the points of
interest in town. The
Chamber had talked about a brochure listing points of interest but Smith said
the booklet would allow more information to be provided. “It’s
amazing how much there is to see of interest in this town,” he said. Smith
said he could provide more detailed information on a web site with the link
printed in the booklet. He
also showed the design for the cover for the new Visitor Guide, planned for
early next year. The
Chamber delayed the deadline for advertising in the book to Nov. 15. SANDERSON
– The community of Sanderson came out in support of longtime resident Tommy
“Buff” McDonald at the Church of Christ Fellowship Hall Monday. Friends
and relatives provided a beef stew dinner and raised more than $3,000 for McDonald,
who is currently in San Angelo receiving treatment for cancer. Beef
stew, corn bread, salad and dessert were available for $6 per plate and
takeout was also provided. Several
cakes were auctioned off and one was so appealing, it sold for $75. Susan
Brotherton got in a bidding war with daughter Mindy, who finally decided the
bid was too high for her purse. Mom finally won the bidding war. A
money tree graced the table near the front. The brass tree soon bloomed with
green bills of several denominations in support of the McDonald family. An
anonymous donor blessed the family’s needs with a $500 donation. McDonald
is in good spirits and said he hopes to come home soon for a visit. Donations
can still be made to a fund at Sanderson State Bank. Group
sponsors honored SANDERSON
– The local youth group 180° Revolution “returned the favor” last weekend,
providing a dinner for the people who have been feeding them every week. Co-leader
Cathy Lawson said the group has been meeting for about a year and the ladies
of First Baptist Church have been providing supper for them each Saturday
night. The
ladies were “escorted” to their seat last week and given a rose along with a
full- course meal complete with desserts. Community
service for the group includes cleaning the courthouse lawn after the Fourth
of July bash and fundraising includes washing windshields at the Big Bend
Open Road Race. The
youth group has attended the popular summer concert “Rock the Desert” in
Midland, a “Salvador” concert in Alpine and is responsible for hosting the
Praise & Worship band “Saved By Grace” of Portales, NM. Each
Saturday night, youth of all denominations meet in the basement of First
Baptist Church. Pastor
John Carnagey believes “it’s not a Baptist thing, it’s a Jesus thing.” They
eat, pray, have devotionals, sing, they have Bible studies and, of course,
play games including pool and ping pong while just “hanging out” and
listening to music. Co-leaders
are Carnagey and his wife Leah and Lawson. Lawson
said when they began to meet, there were about five or six kids coming and
they now average 15 to 20 a week. “It
gives the kids something to do on Saturday night,” said Lawson. Their next project is to paint the basement
where they meet. Big
Bend Area geology explored By MARK GLOVER Marathon News Leader ALPINE
– In the middle of Brewster County, looming large, square-shouldered and something
like an African beast, Elephant Mountain stands 6,200 feet above sea-level
offering vistas of the volcanic history of West Texas – the Paisano Plateau,
the Window at the Chisos, the Bofecillos, the Apache Mountains and, in the
far distance in south Presidio County, the remnants of one of the biggest
volcanic explosions of all time, Chinati. The
Chinati Volcano killed everything within a 100-mile range of its vent. The
red-hot rock blew into the atmosphere and cooled as ash likely darkened the
sky for years, nucleating giant electrical thunderstorms that altered the
climate. A
span of trees near Candeleria that were walloped with the explosive force
fell in a semi-circular pattern indicating the direction of the blast and can
still be seen today, petrified. Chinati
is ranked as the 20th most powerful volcano in the history of the planet. Thirty
to 35 million years ago, West Texas was a violent place, a cauldron of
volcanic activity. And
it is this period of time that formed and now defines the geography of West
Texas. A
very brief geological history of the Trans-Pecos starts 200 million years ago
with the deposition of limestone from the giant Permian Sea that covered the
area. About
140 million years later, mountains began to build as plates shifted below the
Earth’s surface. In
the Tertiary Period, volcanism was followed by the Miocene Epoch where tremendous
faulting occurred. And
then 15 million years of erosion brought us to the present. The
mountain savannah on top of Elephant Mountain is covered with a dark clay
soil, older than most soils of the region. It
is somewhat protected from the tremendous force of millions of years of
erosion, as are many of the high plateaus in the region. Some
scientists speculate that when the hot volcanic ash landed, it welded to
already existing surface rock creating a super hard substance known as
ignimbrite. This
rock, found at the base of many of our region’s mesas, was more resistant to
erosion. Green
Valley, a low expanse of land that runs below Mitchell Mesa near Casa Piedra
east through the Folkes and O-2 ranches, can be seen from Elephant Mountain,
illustrating the power of erosion. In
some places, the desert floor is thousands of feet below the plateaus suggesting
tons of earth that has been swept down valleys like Calamity and Terlingua
Creeks and eventually into the Rio Grande where, over the years, this earth
was pushed downriver into the Gulf of Mexico, spreading Texas across the
globe. 40-year
radio career on CD BIG
SPRING – The Heritage Museum here will host Tumbleweed Smith’s debut party
for his latest CD, “Tumbleweed’s Top 40,” from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18. The
program features his favorite program from each year of the 40 years his
radio series, “The Sound of Texas,” has been on the air. “It
was not easy picking one program from 260, which is the number of programs I
produce in a year,” Tumbleweed said. “Then multiply that times 40 and you
understand what a job it was. I’d go through the list of programs for an
entire year, pick about 20 or so possibilities, then select just one for the
CD.” The
2-CD set – 20 programs per CD – includes “some funny stories, some
heart-warming reports on Texas life, descriptions of the state’s unique
events and features some wonderful Texas characters,” he said. The
CD sells for $15 from www.tumbleweedsmith.com. MARATHON
– The Marathon Lady Colts volleyball team ended a perfect season by defeating
the McCamey A and B teams on here Monday. Parents
of the undefeated team were recognized and honored for their support and presented
with flowers. Krystal
Aguilar took control of game two by scoring 25 straight points against a
McCamey B team. On
their way to becoming Buena Vista Tournament Champions, the Lady Colts
defeated Buena Vista, Grandfalls, the Lady Warriors of Odessa, McCamey A and
B teams, Fort Davis, Marfa, Grandfalls again and Marfa again. They
topped off the tourney by defeating McCamey A team and B team again, earning
them championship status. The
Lady Colts were also Fort Davis Tournament Champs, defeating Marfa,
Grandfalls and the Bears from Balmorhea. The
girls finished the season with a record of 12-0. “I knew all year they could do it, but I am
glad the girls progressed all season and continued to improve,” Coach Nitra
Woods told the News Leader. ”They
are all MVPs.” ALPINE
– Sul Ross State University has named 12 finalists for the 2008 Sul Ross
State University Homecoming king and queen. Queen
finalists are senior Celina Candelaria of El Paso, freshman Grace Fox
of Killeen, sophomore Marlett Garcia of Presidio, senior Morgan
Johnson of Christoval, senior Veronica Ruffier of El Paso and junior
Shiloh Shugart of Merkel. King
finalists are senior Logan Means of Dell City, senior James Aldridge of El
Paso, freshman Aaron Gonzales of El Paso, freshman Jared
Hilgenberg of El Paso, freshman Sammy Martinez of Odessa and junior
Monte Piper of Sugarland. Finalists
were announced Monday during a performance by comedian Lee Camp in Marshall
Auditorium. Reigning
Queen Ereka Howard of Midland and King Moises Morales of Fort Hancock will
crown their successors during halftime of the American Southwest Conference
football game tomorrow, Nov. 1, between the Lobos and Louisiana College. “Lobos
Throughout the Decades” is the 2008 Homecoming theme with events continuing
through Sunday, Nov. 2. The
annual pep rally and bonfire activities will start at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Oct.
31 at the field adjacent to Kokernot Park. There
will be a Homecoming lunch will begin at 11 a.m. today in the UC Dining
Services. Homecoming
registration will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the UC first floor. The
$40-per-person packet includes a commemorative T-shirt, admission to the
Homecoming luncheon, Welcome Social, pre-game lunch, football game,
President’s reception and Sunday farewell brunch. The
Sul Ross Alumni Association will have its annual meeting at 1 p.m. in the UC,
Room 210. A
campus tour will begin at 3 p.m. at the University Center. There will be an
Alumni and Friends pre-social at 5 p.m. will on the patio at Alpine’s Reata
Restaurant. A
Homecoming Welcome social begins at 7 p.m. in the UC second floor foyer. At
8 p.m., the annual Homecoming Chili Cook-off will be judged at the Sul Ross
track field and the lighting of the Bar-SR-Bar will be at 9 p.m. Tomorrow,
Nov. 1, the annual Homecoming parade will begin at 10:30 a.m., proceeding
from the Alpine Civic Center east on Holland Ave. to Jackson Field. J.
Travis Roberts of Marathon will serve as Grand Marshal. A
pre-game luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. at Jackson Field. At 1 p.m., the Lobos will battle Louisiana
College in an American Southwest Conference football game. Coronation
of the 2008 Homecoming Queen and King will be at halftime. A
post-game Baby Boomers reception is scheduled from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the
Holland Hotel in downtown Alpine. A
6:30 p.m. reception at the home of President R. Vic and Mary Jane Morgan will
precede the 7:30 p.m. Hall of Honor/Distinguished Alumni banquet. On
Sunday, Nov. 2, a Homecoming 5K run/walk begins at 9 a.m. with start and
finish at Kokernot Lodge. A
farewell brunch buffet is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the UC Dining
Services. for
district judge DEL
RIO -- Enrique “Henry” Fernandez of Del Rio is the Democratic nominee for
district judge for the 63rd Judicial District of Texas, which comprises the
counties of Val Verde, Kinney, Terrell and Edwards. Fernandez,
50, was born and raised in Del Rio. After graduating from the local school
system, he attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a BA in
Government in 1979. In
1983, he graduated from the University of Houston College of Law and was
licensed to practice law in the state the same year. Fernandez
began his legal career with the Del Rio law firm of Lowrey, Foster &
Hodge, where he practiced primarily in the areas of real estate, probate,
family and banking law. “This
experience with these fine attorneys provided a solid foundation for my legal
career,” he said. Fernandez
also served as Val Verde County attorney from 1985 to 1988. In that capacity,
he prosecuted Class A and B misdemeanors for the state and was the general
legal counsel for the County of Val Verde.
“A
very rewarding period of my career was when I was a staff attorney with Texas
Rural Legal Aid,” he said. “Providing legal services to those who cannot
afford them just makes you feel good inside,” Fernandez
continued his career as an assistant attorney general in the Child Support
Division in Eagle Pass. He
was the managing attorney of the Eagle Pass Office and was charged with prosecuting
a large docket of child support cases in the counties of Maverick, Dimmitt,
La Salle, and Frio. Fernandez
was a litigator for Knickerbocker, Heredia, Jasso, Dovalina & Stewart,
PC, and as a Partner with Dovalina & Fernandez, PC. In
2001, Fernandez began his sole practice when he opened the Law Office of
Enrique Fernandez. He
now has a general practice where he continues to try cases representing both
plaintiffs and petitioners and criminal and civil defendants and respondents. In
1982, while in law school, Fernandez became certified as a minor dispute
resolution mediator through the Houston Neighborhood Justice Center and the
next year, he was asked to help train the next class of mediators. Many
times he has been called on by local judges to mediate disputed cases prior
to proceeding with formal litigation. “My
training and experience as a mediator has taught me to be fair and impartial
when hearing a dispute, a trait that is so important for a judge,” Fernandez
said. Fernandez
served two terms on the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee where he was
involved in the handling of complaints lodged against attorneys. “I
understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of the profession and
of the justice system in general,” he said. During
his career, Fernandez has handled cases in municipal courts, justice courts,
constitutional county courts, statutory county courts, district courts,
Fourth Court of Appeals of Texas, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the
Supreme Court of Texas. Additionally,
Fernandez has practiced in each of the counties comprising the 63rd Judicial
District. Fernandez
is married to Dr. Mayra Latoni-Fernandez, an optometrist in Del Rio. They are
the parents of an 11-year-old son, Joey Fernandez. “A
District Judge should possess extensive experience, legal knowledge, judicial
temperament, integrity, fairness and ethical conduct,” he said. “I feel that
I bring these qualities into this campaign with more than 24 years of legal experience
in many areas of practice.” |
The four Hs stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health. The organization serves more than 6.5 million members
in the US from ages 5 to 19 in approximately 90,000 clubs. Clubs and related organi-zations now exist in many
other countries as well. SANDERSON
– Don’t look now but today is Halloween, a day set aside for spooks, goblins
and everything even a little bit scary. But
tomorrow is the “official” day of celebration in Sanderson, so proclaimed by
the Terrell County Independent School District. For
several years, the community has looked to the superintendent of schools to determine
which evening is best for “trick or treat” and the community Halloween events
have revolved around that date. In
recent years, the Guadalupanas of the St. James Catholic Church have
conducted a Halloween carnival at St. James Hall. Superintendent
Gary Hamil-ton said he decided Saturday, Nov. 1, would be the best day for
trick or treat because it was not a school night and tonight conflicts with
an important Sanderson Eagles football game. But
when he checked, he found St. James Hall was booked for that night and there
were no plans for a Halloween celebration. Tomorrow is also All Saints Day,
an important event to many Catholics. So
the school district will run the event this year. As
in years past, there will be costume judging for all age groups at the
Courthouse Square. Then
the various witches, pirates, ghosts and skeletons will “promenade” around
the courthouse and wind up at the band hall for “games, food, prizes and
more,” organizer Tami Carrasco said. The
party is hosted by the students, faculty and parents of TCISD. “Everyone
is invited to join the fun,” Carrasco said. “We can’t wait to see you there.”
The
Sanderson High School Cheerleaders will also be there, selling cookie dough. Halloween
is an ancient hol-iday with roots in what is now Ireland and France. The
History Channel says the Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is
now Ireland and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. “This
day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark,
cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death,” the
channel’s website says. “Celts
believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the
worlds of the living and the dead became blurred,” it says. “On the night of
October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of
the dead returned to earth. “In
addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the
presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic
priests, to make predictions about the future,” the channel said. “For
a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies
were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter,”
it said. The
roots of the early beliefs are still evident in modern Halloween celebrations
but they have turned mostly to a holiday for children and for adults who want
to dress up like something they aren’t once a year. Tomorrow,
Nov. 1, is also All Saints Day, the feast that commemorates all those who have attained the beatific
vision in Heaven. The next day is All Souls’ Day, which commemorates the departed faithful who,
accor-ding to Catholic doctrine, have not yet been purified and reached
heaven. So whether the spiritual event, the historical one or
just plain fun is on your agenda, have a happy Halloween weekend. Hunters
Feast set for Dec. 6 SANDERSON
– Organizers say this year’s Terrell County Hunter’s Feast is beginning to
take shape. It is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at St. James Hall. “Last
year, the feast was able to buy a $6,500 20 foot stock trailer for the
Terrell County 4-H kids,” Organizer Nancy Stegall said. She
said other donations included $500 to the Youth Baseball, $1,000 to the
school shop class, $500 to Terrell County Emergency Medical Service and two
scholarships for $1,250. “A
Diamo 500 Discovery XLT 4x4 Mule has arrived and a $1 donation goes into the
pot for a chance to win it,” Stegall said. “The pot has guns, $500 gift
certificates, hunting gear and much more. A
deer painting signed and numbered by Hayden Lambson called “Older and Wiser”
is on display to be used in the card game. The
feast uses two decks of cards and each card costs $10. The
cards are torn in half and the winner will hold the other half of the half
card drawn. “Don't
forget the Silent Auction,” Stegall said. “Cooks have discussed the big meal
of brisket, goat meat, chicken and all the trimmings for $8. “Your
generous donations of guns, hunting gear, gift certificates, silent action
items and money donations made the Hunters Feast 2007 a great one for us to
give back to the town of Sanderson,” she said. “We would be appreciative if
you are able to help this year.” Stegall said items can be left at the
Sanderson Tire Center and donations mailed to Hunters Feast, Box 140, Sanderson,
Texas, 79848. CC
teams advance at meet BALMORHEA
– The Sanderson Eagles boys placed first as a team and the girls brought home
a second place victory at the district cross country meet here Wednesday,
both running their way to Regionals. Out
of the 38 boys that ran, Travis Roberts won first place, clocking in at
17.421 minutes. Brother
Taylor Roberts was not far, placing second with a time of 17.591. In
eighth place was Shawn Stegall, crossing the line in 18.572, Jimmy Rapp ran
the race in 19.299, earning him 13th place and in 15th place was Andrew
Woosley with a time of 20.175. Cordell
Lawson placed 18th, crossing the line in 20.411 and Kelly Lomas came in 27th
place with a time of 22.258. The
girls also did well with Noemi Nuñez leading the way in third place out of 44
girls. Her time was 14.21. In
ninth place, off the injured list, was Jessica Garza who crossed the line in
14.52. In
11th place was Vicky Busch, who clocked in at 15.404. Brianna Johnson placed
14th with a time of 15.59 and in 25th place, also healthy and ready for
Regionals, was Juliana Castro. Isabel
Rivera ran the race in 17.358, placing 27th and in 44th place was Ashley Hagelgans
who crossed the line in 25.579. The
Regional meet will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Mae Simmons Park in
Lubbock. In
the Junior Varsity division, Angelina Hopkins won first place, clocking in at
16.482 and Miriam Nuñez placed third with a time of 17.085. In
junior high action Dryden Baker placed 19th with a time of 15.176, Daniel
Luevano crossed the line in 16.02, placing him in 21st place and Jalen
Chriesman placed 22nd, with a time of 16.161. For
the Mustangs from Marathon, Jerek Lara ran the race in 21.305, placing him in
21st place, Colton Johnson placed 31st with a time of 23.091 and Jesus Grano
crossed the line in 24.192, coming in 32nd. In 33rd place was Cito Hernandez with a time
of 24.473, Zach Gonzalez came in 37th place clocking in at 27.253 and in 38th
place was Edward Gonzalez, who ran the race in 27.272. MIDLAND
– The November meeting of The Texas Pecos Trail Region will be at the Sibley
Nature Center at 1307 East Wadley here Thursday, Nov. 13. The
Texas Pecos Trail Regional meeting begins at 10 a.m. Lunch will be served at
Noon for $10. This
is the annual membership meeting and all partners are invited. RSVP is
requested for the luncheon. The
meeting is open to any person or organization interested in promoting
tourism, historic preservation or economic development. The
Texas Pecos Region includes Terrell, Andrews, Crane, Crockett, Ector,
Edwards, Glasscock, Kimble, Kinney, Loving, Martin, Maverick, Midland, Pecos,
Reagan, Reeves, Sterling, Sutton, Upton, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler
counties. The
Texas Heritage Trails Program is a regional tourism initiative of the Texas
Historical Commission. The
program helps Texas communities promote tourism, revitalize local economies and
foster community leadership through historic preservation. For
more information on the Texas Pecos Trail Region programs or to make
reservations for the luncheon, contact Region Coordinator Paula Walker at
325/387-2927, visit the website www.texaspecostrail.com
or email responses to texaspecostrail@hotmail.com Veterans
Day planning under
way SHEFFIELD
– The Sheffield Cemetery Association plans a program for Veteran’s day here. A
program honoring living and deceased veterans will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday,
Nov. 11, at the Sheffield Cemetery. Refreshments
will be served after the program at the Westside Community Building. Veteran’s
Day was originally called “Armistice Day” and it marked the end of World War
I, the conflict popularly known as “The War to End All Wars.” The
armistice at Compiègne, France, between the Allies and Germany took effect at eleven o’clock in the morning – the
“eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” The program here will begin with a color guard by
Seaborne ChalleNGe Academy and the National Anthem by Kirke McKenzie,
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer by Andy Vanderwier and a
speech by Jerry Davenport. Don Jackson will read a roll call of deceased veterans
and recognize veterans present. Organizer Carol Donowho said the program was still
being worked on at press time and other details would be available next week. By MARK GLOVER Marathon News Leader TERLINGUA
– Steaming bowls of red will be the main event here this weekend as cooks from
around the world compete for the big enchilada of the chile world. Chile
Appreciation Society International and The Frank X. Tolbert-Wick Fowler Memorial
– The Original – are sanctioning the final chili cook-off competitions of the
year here to determine the best 2008 chile maestros. Last
year, more than 500 bowls of chile sizzled judges’ taste buds. “I
like to clean my pallet between chiles with celery. Others use crackers,
carrots or beer,” Terry Buffalo “Butt” Butler said. “Most of them use beer.” Butler
has been attending the Chile Cook-Offs for 34 years and his wife T.J. for 27
years. Both judged at the CASI event last year. Along
with the chile and beer, 57 arrests were made last year, mainly for public
intoxication. “Our
rules are very simple down there,” Sheriff Ronny Dodson said. “If you’re
driving a four-wheeler the speed limit is five miles per hour and if you’re
drunk and fall, fall out of the road. “Smoking
marijuana and fighting will land you in jail,” the sheriff added. Drunks
however are handled a little differently. “We
can’t haul all the PIs up to the jail so we build a campfire every night and
the really drunk ones are brought there,” Dodson said. “We write the time on
their hands. After four hours at the fire to give them time to sober up, we
release them with a citation.” The
Chili Cook-off started in 1967, back when Carroll Shelby was racing Cobras
and selling Terlingua Ranch property at $1 per acre. It
wasn’t selling fast. Then he and his partners Frank Tolbert and Wick Fowler
heard about Holiday Magazine writer H. Allen Smith’s boast that “nobody
in Texas knows how to cook chile.” “The
next thing you know, there was a Chili Cook-off at the Terlingua ghost town
between the Yankee Smith and Wick Fowler,” Elton Holmsley, an old timer of
the Chili Cook-Offs, said. “The judge was Hallie Stillwell. She burned her
tongue and declared the contest a tie.” Entries
grew and in 1970, the first woman was allowed to compete. She didn’t win. In
1973, Sheriff Jim Skinner advised Fowler and Tolbert that the ghost town
mineshaft area was “too dangerous for all these drunks,” Holmsley said. The
event moved to Glen Pepper’s “Villa de la Minas” ranch until the 1980s when
tension between rivaling parties caused a split. “Shelby
had already taken his cook-off to the Mojave Desert in California. The rest
of ‘em went to federal court in Pecos. The dispute was heard by Judge Lucius
Patton who threw the case out,” Holmsley said. “Said it was between you boys
to figure out.” In
November of 1988, CASI bought the land their event is now located on and the
“Original” stayed behind Arturo’s store. Chile
judge Roy Pitcock, who has been judging at the “Original” since 1989, said
the main difference between the two cook-offs was that when the National
Anthem was played at the “Original,” everybody stood. When
asked if the “Original” allowed armadillo meat in their chile, which had been
a rumor going around the CASI camp last year, Pitcock shook his head, leaned
across the table and said, “No animals like that. They’re the ones with no
rules.” Both
events contribute funds toward national and local college scholarships and
other charities through entry fees, sponsorships and the sale of food and
beverage. CASI
sanctions more than 500 cook-offs and raises more than $1 million each year
for local charities. This
year, the “Original” event selected the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also
known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, as recipients of the proceeds. scheduled
Sunday MARATHON
– The 13th annual Cowboy Social and Silent Auction will be from 3 to 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 2. at the Ritchey Building here. There
will be food, fun and musical entertainment provided by Craig Carter and his
Spur of the Moment Band, as well as a silent auction in which participants
will have the opportunity to bid on quality items and services donated by
area businesses, local artists and artisans and individuals. All
proceeds from the meal and the silent auction will go toward the support of
Marathon Primary Care Services. Some
of the goals the clinic board has planned for the coming year include
updating computer equipment, including a videophone connection. This
will allow Dr. Jim Luecke to meet with Marathon patients while he is in
Alpine, updating medical and diagnostic equipment, as well as making improvements
to the clinic’s physical plant as needed.
In
addition to the fun and festivities at the Ritchey building, there will be a
health fair next door at the clinic. Everyone
is invited to tour the clinic and its facilities, as well as taking advantage
of the free blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol tests, which will be
given on site. Big
Bend Regional Medical Center diagnostician Fran Witt will also be on hand to
provide counseling session regarding nutritional health. Clinic
staff includes Licensed Nurse Practitioner Joan Lister, LVN Ruth Spitzer and
Office Manager Isabel Shackelford. The
clinic is open each Monday and Thursday and can be reached by calling
432/386-4316. Admission to the social is $15 for adults and
$5 for children age ten and under. |