August 22, 2008

Construction costs up

SANDERSON – While much of the country is struggling with what none dare call a recession, oil and gas recovery in West Texas are creating a kind of “boom.” But the “good times” are creating a down side. Labor is being absorbed by the oil boom and housing is becoming rare just as construction costs are going through the roof. Monty Hunter of Odessa said construction costs have more than doubled in five years and are now nearing $200 per square foot. “You are getting a triple whammy in Sanderson,” Hun-ter said. “There is the distance factor, for which we added 40 percent.” That adds to the labor shortage and increased costs of materials. Hunter is the architect for the Terrell County School District’s $14 million school bond issue construction. His company, Hunter Corral Associates, has received a design award for work on the Andrews ISD Performance Center. The project was selected from several projects from across the state including Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and many more districts. Home construction, a serious need in much of the area including Sanderson, is hard hit by increasing costs, sometimes driving homes beyond what the market might bear. Sharon Wolfe, who is building Dos Lobos, an eight-unit housing complex at Mansfield and Third, said the high costs of building homes puts a squeeze on builders who have to recover their costs. But many cannot afford homes in excess of $100,000 for a basic house. She said once the Dos Lobos project is fully leased, she can begin looking for new projects. It is nearing completion now, she said, and she is in the process of renting them. Housing shortages are putting a strain on communities throughout West Texas. Meanwhile, school districts across the state have gotten something like $6 billion in bond issues approved for new construction, including a $1.35 billion bond issue by the Dallas School District. Three things are going on affecting price, cost of materials, a labor shortage driving up wages and increased construction driven by school projects, as well as a need for additional housing. All over state, there is school construction, Hunter said. “Texas is in a kind of boom construction wise,” he said. “We bid projects five years ago and they came in at about $70 per square foot,” he said. “Now its double that – and then some.” No school bond work ready SANDERSON – The Terrell County School Board did not take action at its regular meeting Monday on an estimated $6.2 million in construction from last year’s successful $14 million bond issue. Board President Ada Lee Robbins told board members architect Monty Hunter still doesn’t have all the bids in yet. “It’s slow but it’s coming,” she said. Robbins had said earlier that she hoped bids could be awarded at this week’s meeting on the high school addition to the junior high school, a new field house and a vocational education building. Hunter told the News Leader Wednesday there will be a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26, to discuss the project. Those with special parking privileges for football games will not be charged for their spaces but once construction begins on the new field house east of the field, that parking will go away. There are seven such spaces at the east end of the field but the new field house will be built there. Preliminary ground work will not affect the parking but once work begins on the structure itself, that space will be lost. Board members discussed parking for handicapped fans but no decision was reached. Superintendent Gary Hamilton suggested a small vehicle like a golf cart be used to shuttle people from handicapped parking to the seating areas. The board agreed to merge eighth grade Spanish with Spanish I because the two are virtually the same class. The eighth grade class is for one semester while Spanish I is a full-year course. But it can be amended to provide instruction for a full school year. The board deferred action on moving Algebra I to an eighth grade class to comply with state “four-by-four” requirements that high school students receive four years of science and four years of math. The previous requirement was for three years of each. Eighth grade math teacher Becky Norris said some eighth graders might be prepared for algebra while others might not. She said the important thing was to give youngsters the match basics before moving into more advanced classes. The board also approved handbooks for cheerleaders and National Honor Society. Language in a letter to go to teachers advising of “strict” guidelines for sophomores was deleted. The NHS constitution states that sophomores are selected for NHS on “probation” and can be removed if needed. And the board accepted the resignation of Coach Adam Portillo and agreed to hire Landra Stewardson of Bagwell in northeast Texas. Like all teachers, she was hired “subject to assignment” but she has a background in physical education and health. Stewardson is an honors graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Back Pep squad gets rebel advice SANDERSON – Members of the Sul Ross State University Extreme Rebel all-star cheerleading team instructed the Sanderson Pep Squad in a stunt and tumbling class this week in the High School Auditorium. A total of 17 Sanderson Junior High and Elementary School students have signed up for the Pep Squad, which will perform this season at Sanderson Eagle home games. Cheerleader sponsor Dora Benavidez said the Rebels are a separate team in addition to the regular Sul Ross cheer team. Girls from kindergarten through junior high school are part of the pep squad that will join the varsity cheerleaders at all home games. Back CHSI to receive $165,000 grant SANDERSON – The US Health Resources and Services Administration has approved a $165,000 grant for Cactus Health Services, Inc., of Sanderson for its rural health outreach special initiative, US Rep. Ciro Rodriguez said here last week, an amount similar to last year. “I was able to secure $167,031 for Cactus Health here in Sanderson last year to support a full-service healthcare facility,” he said. “I look forward continue to work with your community to identify needs and work toward securing the necessary resources.” Rodriguez said he has followed through on his commitment to visit all of the 20 counties in his district in his “Congress on your Corners” meetings. “My fellow congressmen in Washington do not believe me when I tell them I am hitting the road on a ten-day, 20- county trip to do over forty events,” He said. “And they really think I’m crazy when I tell them this is third or forth time I have done it.” Rodriguez said Congress has “accomplished a tremendous amount, yet we still have so much to do.” He said legislation has been approved “to make our country safer, to improve access to education and healthcare and restore accountability in our government. “We have plenty more to do to fix our country’s failed energy policy,” he said. “Gas prices are out of control and our families are paying the price. “Regardless of what you have heard, we didn’t get to where we are with gas prices overnight,” he said. “This is a product of decades of bad energy policy and decisions. And unfortunately there is no one answer that will solve our problems.” Rodriguez said the country should focus on both a long- term energy plan and short- term relief. He said he supports a four-point plan to increase incentives for renewable fuels, increase domestic supply including more drilling “that is environmentally safe,” increase investments in technology and research and to “put money back into American pockets.” Rodriguez said Congress passed an economic stimulus that put $600 into people’s pockets this year. “We need to continue providing tax breaks to help offset these high gas and energy prices,” he said. Rodriguez said quality of care to veterans and men and women in uniform is one issue that has been “near and dear to my heart. “When our men and women put on that uniform for our country, we better make sure we are there for them should they ever need healthcare or anything from us,” he said. Back Forest Service pulling back GRANBURY – Recent rains have been good news for many around Texas and one of the big benefits has been a great reduction in the number and intensity of wildland fires. The US Forest Service, which has been prominent in many of the serious fires around the state including two of the biggest last spring in Terrell and Pecos Counties, plans to demobilize in the state. “As you might know, the fire activity in Texas has come to crawl, which is good,” Public Information Officer Lewis Kearney said in an e-mail to news media Monday. “A few scattered places in Texas yesterday had activity with wildland fires, however there were no requests for Texas Forest Service assistance.” He said if the weather pattern continues, there will be “a heavy demobilization of federal and out-of-state resources.” He said as of Monday, there were 360 “resources” still assigned in Texas, 166 of them federal. “Also there are 32 engines, 40 dozers, three helicopters and five air attack aircraft still assigned,” Kearney said. Several counties in southwest Texas, including Terrell, canceled burn bans this month. Back Wildlife head outlines challenges ALPINE – Human demographic growth and land and water management issues pose distinct challenges to fish and wildlife, the executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said last week. Carter Smith, who assumed his new duties earlier this year, gave the keynote address at the Trans-Pecos Wildlife Conference, hosted by Sul Ross State University’s Borderlands Research Institute. More than 200 landowners, wildlife enthusiasts and other participants attended the two-day event. The conference was co-sponsored by the Texas Wildlife Association, Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife. Conference seminars included sessions on wildlife issues and management and mule deer issues and management. The event also included a half-day field trip to the Catto-Gage Ranch to study management practices. Smith, who has worked with conservation and wildlife agencies for nearly two decades, said public education leading to increased use of the outdoors was a major challenge. While land management and water availability and use are major issues, “people issues” are the state’s biggest challenges, Smith said. He said 82 percent of Texas residents live in large metropolitan areas and many have little involvement with outdoor activities. Building connections to outdoor activities is essential, he said. “Up to four generations of residents are removed from family-owned lands and the outdoors,” Smith said. “They’re scared to death of the night sounds of the cicada and the coyote.” Introducing a growing Hispanic population to the advantages of hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor activities is another challenge, he said. Making nature relevant to children – who spend an average of more than six hours per day using electronic devices – is also a key. Smith said TPWD has 46 programs targeted to promote outdoor involvement, to get families out-of-doors and develop lifelong activities. “We are trying to provide places they can access as well as help children take wildlife and nature into their electronic worlds – and encourage them to get outside,” he said. “Our private land management plays a vital role in shepherding public values.” Smith said the Texas fish and wildlife economy is a $16 billion enterprise, employing 140,000 people. The mission of the Borderlands Research Institute is to help conserve the natural resources of the Chihuahuan Desert Borderlands through research, education and outreach. The BRI, organized in 2007, is managed by Dr. Louis Harveson, Sul Ross professor of Natural Resource Management. Eleven advisory board members have been appointed. Back

Sanderson, because of its distance from the home base of most construction companies and because of a lack of available housing, a factor of 40 percent was added to the estimate for school projects, Hunter said. “An interesting thing has happened after the Legislature changed tax rates for schools a couple of years ago,” he said. “It made a good environment for districts to pass bond issues and their taxes would still go down. “At the same time, many school districts had schools that were 50 and 60 years old,” Hunter said. “They were all having to make the decision of do we renovate or replace, and either way costs a lot of money.” Tax rate increase proposed SANDERSON – Terrell County Commissioners have proposed a county tax rate for the new fiscal year of 32.43 cents per $100 valuation, up from the “effective rate” in the current year of 29.86. The action triggers two public hearings, both at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 29, and Tuesday, Sept. 2, in the Commissioners Courtroom on the second floor of the Terrell County Courthouse. Tax assessor Blain Chriesman said the public hearings are needed because the rate is higher than the current year. No hearing would be required if the rate remained the same or lower than the preceding year. The higher tax was needed, he said, because of a $53 million decrease in the county’s total tax base. Chriesman said energy costs shot up this year because of a spike in the price of crude oil, which has since subsided. But the county valuations are based on last year’s prices and the tax base is expected to be up in the new fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. County Judge Leo Smith said Terrell County energy is primarily natural gas, which was selling last year for about $4 per 1,000 cubic feet. This year, the price has ranged from $8 to $13 per MCF so next year’s rate will likely go down, he said. The average taxable value of a home in Terrell County last year was $28,726 and last year’s tax rate meant the average homeowners paid a tax of $80.29. The average in the new year is $31,452 and, at the proposed rate, the homeowner would pay $93.35. “Taxpayers may have seen a small increase in their taxes, even after the rate went down this year,” he said. “That’s primarily because property values have increased.” But he said Terrell County is still a lot lower than some surrounding counties. After the public hearings Aug. 29 and Sept. 2, the commissioners are expected to vote on the budget and tax rate at the regular meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8. Also at last week’s special meeting, commissioners voted to cancel the contract with Emergency Medical Service Director Susan Pendleton and to seek a contract for the position. Pendleton will remain in the position of chief dispatcher for the Terrell County Sheriff’s Office. “We have no choice,” Smith said. A review by the Texas Association of Counties said the only way Pendleton could be full-time chief dispatcher and remain as EMS director would be if she were paid overtime, which the county policy does not allow. Smith said the county has a policy to provide “comp time” – or time off – for hours worked in excess of 40 per week. The action did not affect any other members of the EMS staff, he said. Back Eagles face first opponents BALMORHEA – The Sanderson Eagles faced their first opponents in the brand new 2008 football season Friday, scrimmaging against the Bears and the Fort Davis Indians on a soggy field here. “We are just not consistent yet,” Head Coach Mark Dominguez said. “As early as it is, we are not where I would like to be. But obviously, it was a good start.” Dominguez said offensively, the team is “about three quarters there,” though there are problems on both sides of the ball. “We didn’t convert on some plays and we need to get that out of the way,” he said. Quarterbacks looked at were Jacob Benavidez, Travis Roberts and Ryan Rosas. While the Eagles did well against the Bears, the Indians gave the orange and black a run for their money. “Fort Davis has always been tough,” Dominguez said. “They’ve been a thorn in our side. “We have to make sure we at least perform and we haven’t given it our best shot,” he said. “We struggled in our execution against them.” Dominguez said he was “real pleased” with his team’s showing against the Bears, particularly on defense. “They had one first down in the 15 plays they had,” he said. “Offensively, we did execute. “Overall, if I were going to grade them [the Eagles], I would rate them about 75 overall,” he said. “They did a good job.” Dominguez said the Indians “managed to score on some big plays. We’re going to have to keep that to minimum. We’ve got to eliminate the big plays.” Among the fans were Carmella Gomez and her daughter Tobi and her two charges Garyn and Taryn. Gomez is the mother of Kim Dominguez of Sanderson and Tobi is Kim’s sister. They are from Balmorhea but are die- hard Eagle fans. Gomez makes every game with husband Johnny and they travel wherever the Eagles go. The Eagles took the field in much cooler weather with some rain, making the pigskin tougher to handle. When the rain came, most fans scurried for cover, leaving only a handful still in the stands. The Eagles travel to Imperial today for a 5 p.m. scrimmage with Buena Vista and Balmorhea. “We are going to work on stuff we need to fix,” Dominguez said. “It’s just minimal mistakes.” The Eagles face Grady in the first regular game of the season at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at Eagle Stadium. Before that, the hometown fans will get a look at their hometown squad with “Meet the Eagles” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at the stadium. Dominguez said Grady has been a tough opponent in recent years. “All of September will be pretty rough,” he said. “I set it up that way because our district is not a cake walk. If we survive September, we will be pretty good in October.” He said the Eagles struggled in the early part of the season last year but did well in district games later in the season and wound up in the playoffs. Parents Night will be Sept. 19 in the game against El Paso Immanuel Baptist and Homecoming will be Oct. 3 when the Eagles host Buena Vista. Back Pizza, pool greets 4-Hers SANDERSON – The Terrell County 4-H Club had its annual sign-up and pool party at Bicentennial Park this week. Extension Agent Mark Carroll said there were about 41 kids enjoying pizza and the pool. Shellie Martin of Sanderson Pizza Company said the kids went through 14 of the pies. The program is not just about raising rabbits anymore. There are several different types of classes available from cooking to photography to shooting sports. Of course, 4-Hers can still raise rabbits or sheep if they so choose. As of yet, Carroll has received 34 applications and six new volunteers. For more information, contact Mark Carroll at 432/345-2291. Back Pecos Trail board to meet SONORA – The September meeting of The Texas Pecos Trail Region will be hosted by the Monahans Chamber of Commerce and The Monahans Main Street Association. The meeting will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Monahans Sandhills Sate Park Section House.  Lunch will be served at noon for $10. The Texas Historical Commission will then conduct a workshop presentation entitled “Heritage Tourism 101,” highlighting important factors in tourism marketing. The meeting is open to any person or organization interested in promoting tourism, historic preservation or economic development. An RSVP is requested. The Texas Pecos Region includes Terrell County along with Andrews, Crane, Crockett, Ector, Edwards, Glasscock, Kimble, Kinney, Loving, Martin, Maverick, Midland, Pecos, Reagan, Reeves, Sterling, Sutton, Upton, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler 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 and to make reservations for the luncheon, contact Region Coordinator Paula Walker at 325-387-2927, visit the Pecos Trail website at www.texaspecostrail.com or email your response to texaspecostrail@hotmail.com Back Freeman running for sheriff SANDERSON – There is now one contested race in the November general election in Terrell County. Former Deputy Sheriff Patrick Freeman told the News Leader he had filed Wednesday as a write-in candidate for sheriff, opposing incumbent Clint McDonald. “Make sure you tell people they have to write in my name,” Freeman said. “There is no box for them to do it.” He said he is running because “I want to make this a better community.” Sanderson is a “perfect place to live and raise a family.” He wants to improve coordination between the Sheriff’s Office and the community. “There shouldn’t be a wall between the two,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with talking to the people.” Back Bridge work under way LAREDO – Work began Monday, Aug. 18, on the rehabilitation of the Pecos River Bridge on US Highway 90 near Langtry. The picturesque bridge, built in 1957, is 1,300 feet long and stands 270 feet above the river. The Texas Department of Transportation has a $4.25 million contract with SCR Construction, Inc., of Richmond for the bridge rehabilitation work, Workers this week placed concrete barriers between the two lanes, isolating the one lane open to traffic from the other lane where work will progress. One lane will remain open throughout the 20-month construction project, allowing traffic to continue, A one-way traffic pattern with a traffic signal, night and day, will allow local and through traffic to continue with special accommodations for emergency response vehicles. “The traveling public should be prepared to stop and expect brief delays, approximately five to ten minutes,” TxDOT said in a press release. Passenger vehicle and commercial tractor-trailer traffic will not be detoured with the exception of wide loads exceeding ten feet. Wide load traffic will be detoured from north on State Highway 349 to Sheffield, east on Interstate 10 to Sonora and south on US 277 to Del Rio. “The traveling public is asked to drive with extreme caution and observe all safety signs, traffic control devices and flaggers in the work zone area,” the TxDOT release said. “We want to emphasize that the Pecos River Bridge continues to be structurally sound and safe to use by the traveling public,” said TxDOT District Engineer Mario G. Medina of Laredo. “We will perform work to replace the bridge decking in efforts to remove upper surface cracking and spalling that extends through the deck.” He said state-of-the-art materials, innovative construction methods, updated roadway design and bridge rails to current standards will be used while preserving the bridge’s historical value and significance. TxDOT said US 90 continues to be an important part of the highway system for local, regional and national traffic and the bridge continues to be an important traffic link between west and south Texas and adjacent states. The department said it will notify the public about the upcoming project through news releases, media phone interviews, flyers, posters and informational meetings to be scheduled in the project area, Medina said. “We want to ensure the public that any interruption of local and through traffic during bridge rehabilitation work will be minimal, even though the traveling public should expect brief delays,” he said. The bridge is 45 miles northeast of Del Rio and 75 miles southeast of Sanderson in Val Verde County. TxDOT said the bridge was inspected last year and found to be structurally sound and safe but the deck is in need of replacement by 2012. Back

And, as districts build new schools, they hire new teachers and they need housing, which is scarce, further increasing the price. “That’s the down side of the boom,” Hunter said. Back Music program on ‘slow incline’ SANDERSON – The new “band director” for Terrell County Independent School District said Monday he has a long road ahead of him in his plan to rescue a struggling music program. “We are on a long, slow incline from a deep, deep hole,” Eric Cooksey told the school board. He said he has started work by having some musical instruments repaired and taking inventory of the school’s musical equipment. “I found no evidence of any kind of inventory,” Cooksey said. He said he had sent 11 instruments to In Tune Music, formally known as Caldwell Music, for repairs. He can send others out when he knows what students will want to play which instruments. “I am looking into having students check out their instruments,” he said. “That way people might look out for their instruments.” The Band Boosters were expected to meet last night, Aug. 21, to elect new officers and adopt by-laws. Cooksey said the by-laws were extremely important for recognition by the University Interscholastic League, which oversees Texas school academic, athletic and musical competition. The UIL was created by The University of Texas at Austin to provide leadership and guidance to public school debate and athletic teachers. Since 1909, it has grown into the largest inter-school organization of its kind in the world. Cooksey told the News Leader he hopes to have a band capable of playing at least the school song by the opening football game Friday, Aug. 29, though it only gives him one week to prepare with school starting Monday, Aug. 25. He told school board members Monday he expects “less than ten” students initially. He told the News Leader a “marching band” is likely not in the cards for some time, though he hopes by mid-season to at least form the band at midfield at halftime to play one or two numbers for the fans. He will try to encourage smaller ensembles such as a jazz band to give students a chance to perform. Cooksey, a Sanderson native, came to Terrell County ISD from the Ysleta ISD in El Paso. He is also a sideman for the hometown band, Dewey and the Terrell County Bs. Back School rating ‘on the way back’ SANDERSON – Terrell County Schools, which for years enjoyed an “exemplary” rating, are “on the way back,” school board members agreed Monday. The Texas Education Agency rated Terrell County Schools in the top two positions in its annual district accountability ratings for 2008, released earlier (Terrell County News Leader, Aug. 8, 2008, Page 1.) TEA moved Sanderson Elementary School up one notch from last year from “recognized” to the top rating of “exemplary.” Sanderson High School also moved up a notch from “academically acceptable” in 2007 to “recognized” this year. Sanderson Junior High School slipped one place from “exemplary” in 2007 to “recognized.” The school district overall was rated “recognized,” up from “academically acceptable” the previous two years. Board Secretary Johnnie Couch suggested signs on either end of town be upgraded. They say schools are “exemplary” for several listed years and the years then abruptly stop “like we fell off the faced of the Earth,” he said. Superintendent Gary Hamilton suggested the sign by changed to say “recognized.” Business Manager Blain Chriesman suggested a sign that could be changed each year to reflect the current ratings. There was no decision on the sign. Students that met the standard score on Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests showed general improvement over the three years. Reading and writing were generally flat but others were up. Readers meeting the standard were 99 percent in 2006, 94 percent in 2007 and 98 percent this year. Writing successes went from 99 to 89 to 99 in that period. Social studies improved from 90 percent in 2006 to 98 percent last year to 99 percent his year. Math scores went from 82 to 85 to 87 percent and science scores went from 61 to 62 to 83 percent. Back Cactus Chat: Two more Eagles come to town By KIM RAPP News Leader Production Manager SANDERSON – Annette Harris, daughter of Alicia Salazar, has moved back home. The ’88 graduate of SHS brings with her six children, two of which will be Eagle football players. Timothy Hopkins will be a sophomore and Joseph Hopkins will be a freshman. They are currently attending practice and will be on the field tonight, ready to go. Sister Angelina will attend SHS as a junior, little Aundria is in the fifth grade, Alliyanna will be in the first grade and Robert Craig is all of two years old. Harris served in the United States Navy and husband Robert still does. Seven-year-old All Star roller hockey player Caden Villegas and his sister Grace Pollitte, 11, of Austin stopped in Sanderson last week. The two are progeny of Oscar & Rachel Villegas of Austin and grandkids of Sanderson resident Romelia Cleveland. Caden proudly displayed shirts and trophies he won in Cincinnati, OH, earlier where became the youngest player in “State Wars” tournament history to make two separate all-star teams. That’s “State Wars,” not “Star Wars” as we said last week. Caden was also named to the 1999 division “Team America,” which consisted of the top 10 players from across the country born in ’99. And he is the youngest player to ever make that team, made up predominately of 9 and 10 year olds. Back on the road again recently was Diana, Kristy & Missy Escamilla. They loaded up kids Chris, Ely, Savannah and Grandma Consuelo Galvan and headed for San Antonio. Georgianna & Bryan Valdez made the trip from San Angelo with Bryanna to meet them. The purpose of the trip was to visit with Diana’s son Alex & Pamela Escamilla and kids Kisen & Bryce. They all enjoyed Sea World, shopping and eating out before heading home. Grandma Galvan opted to stay for a few weeks and visit some more. Savannah flew back home to Dallas. She is the daughter of Junior Farley and was spending the summer with dad & Missy. Back America seen still ‘the best’ SANDERSON – Seeing how people live in other countries showed one young American “just how lucky we are” to live here. Jessica Garza, a Sanderson High School junior, told a group of supporters Tuesday night about her trip as a “People to People Ambassador” to six European countries in three weeks this summer. “We got to see other places but America is the best,” she said. “Everywhere we went you had to pay to go to the rest room.” She said the rest rooms were all “well kept” but she was not used to paying for something that costs nothing in the country she knows. “It was a trip of a lifetime,” her mom Gina Garza said in her introduction. “She now has friends all over Texas.” Jessica was one of 44 students plus group leaders that toured England and five countries on the continent in June. Gina Garza thanked friends, neighbors and others who raised some $6,000 to make the trip possible. One of the high points of the trip, Jessica said, was when she stayed with a family in Germany, learning how people lived in another country. “The one I loved the most was when we got to watch Germany play Turkey for the European Cup” in soccer, she said. “I got to see how into it they were.” She said it was “emotional” and “amazing” to see the home of Anne Frank, who began to keep a diary on her thirteenth birthday in 1942 while the family hid from German occupation of Amsterdam in World War II. Anne died two years later from from typhus while in a concentration camp. Her diary was recovered by her father, Otto Frank, after the war. It was published and became a best seller. Jessica said she had a scar on her ankle from an accident while riding a “trottinet,” a scooter used to ride in the Alps of Switzerland. “Almost everyone has one [scar],” she said. When someone would get a cut or scrape riding the scooter, he would pull off the scab to be sure of forming a scar as a reminder of the trip, Jessica said. Students also went rafting in the Alps and got to see “the world’s largest cookoo clock in Germany. They also saw how the clocks were made as well as chocolates, Dutch clogs and blown glass. Back FSA accepting emergency loan applications FORT STOCKTON – Applications for emergency agricultural loans for damages and losses caused by drought this year are being accepted at the Farm Service Agency office here. Farm Loan Manager William H. McAnally said Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Terrell, Reeves, Ward and Winkler Counties eligible for loans to cover part of actual production and physical losses resulting from the disaster. Additionally, Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos, Presidio, and Terrell Counties are eligible for loans for damages and losses caused by fires occurring in May. McAnally said producers may be eligible for loans of up to 100 percent of actual losses or the loan needed to continue in business, whichever is less. For producers unable to obtain credit from private commercial lenders, the interest is 3.75 percent. “As a general rule, a producer must have suffered at least a 30 percent loss of production to be eligible for an FSA emergency loan,” McAnally said. Producers participating in the Federal Crop Insurance program will have to figure in proceeds from those programs in determining their loss. “Applications for loans under this emergency designation will be accepted until March 30, 2009, but producers should apply as soon as possible,” McAnally said. “Delays in applying could create backlogs in processing and possibly over into the new season.” FSA is a credit agency of the US Department of Agriculture authorized to provide disaster emergency loans to recognized producers who work at and rely on agriculture for a substantial part of their living. Eligibility is extended to individual producers who are US citizens and to agricultural partnerships, corporations or cooperatives in which US citizens hold a majority interest. For detailed information and applicant eligibility criteria, contact the FSA office here. Back The tie that wouldn’t die SANDERSON – The Terrell County School Board remained deadlocked Monday on the issue of field trips for accelerated reading competitions, ending in a tie vote for the third meeting in a row. Two earlier votes ended tied at 2-2 and Monday, two more members were present and the vote ended in a 3-3 deadlock. At issue was whether students who qualified for an end-of-the-year trip in accelerated reading should be allowed to go if they were failing in another subject. Board President Ada Lee Robbins has argued that the trip is a reward for extra reading effort, that the trip encourages the student to do well and might encourage him in other subjects. She was supported by Board Secretary Johnnie Couch and Trustee Sandy Pierce. Board Vice President Eddie Benavidez and Trustees Cheryl Seidel and James Chapoy argued that the “no pass, no play” concept applies to all other school activities and should apply here as well. Trustee Neto Calzada was absent. Unless it is overturned by a vote of the board, the policy will remain unchanged and a failing grade will prevent a student from going on the trip. Back