August 12 2015

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Tri-Canyon’s Only Weekly Newspaper!

Current Weekly News for Leakey, Camp Wood, Sabinal, Utopia and Surrounding Areas Vol. 5 No. 33

INSIDE Attention Real County Lamb and Goat Stockshow Exhibitors Tags for major shows must be purchased by August 24, 2015 at 5 pm. If the exhibitor is only showing at the Real County Show you do not have to purchase tags at this time. Please contact Melissa Bates for an order form and details. melissachranebates@gmail.com

(830) 279-5990

VET CLINIC BURKS LEAKEY AUGUST 29 ............................ Page 11

Somewhere in the West

www.hillcountryherald.net

editor@hillcountryherald.net

August 12, 2015

FAMILY DOLLAR COMING TO LEAKEY Real County Commissioner’s Approve Variance by Julie Becker At Monday’s Real County Commissioner’s Court, Commissioner’s voted 5-0 to approve a requested variance from on-site sewage facility permitting rules for proposed Family Dollar retail store to be located at 588 U.S. Highway 83 in Leakey, Texas. Documents provided to Commissioners indicate an authorization to construct dated of June 26, 2015 was revoked until a variance was obtained. Berry Engineers stated in a memo dated July 9, 2015 the reasons in support of the variance: “Low Wastewater Demand-The proposed Family Dollar store typically only has 2-3 employees working simultaneously; Future Public Sewer was also mentioned. We believe this development is a reasonable request and new commercial development would provide a positive impact for the community in employment, development activity, as well as increased property tax and sales tax.”

Plat drawings indicate the store will be located at the corner of U.S.Hwy 83 and Clark-Moore St. In other business

TEXAS 4-H 2015 SHOOTING SPORTS STATE GAMES REAL COUNTY RESULTS

Commissioner’s approved the Certified Values from the Appraisal District and scheduled public hearings regarding the

2015 Proposed Tax Rate for August 25 at 6pm; September 1 at 9am; and moved next months Commissioner’s Court meeting to September 8 at 9am to facilitate the last hearing date. Commissioner’s also approved the Appraisal District 2015-2016 budget. They also approved a 3% cost of living increase in the TCDRS Retirement System plan provisions for plan year 2016. Commissioner’s reviewed and will place for bid the contract for fees and costs due in Real County JP Courts. A representative from the current firm collecting the fees was present and told the Commissioners the current firm began collecting the unpaid past due fines and fees in Jan. 2010. continued page 2

NEW UTILITY DIRECTOR UPDATES TIMELINE ON LEAKEY SEWER PROJECT by Julie Becker

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God-sized Forgiveness The Story of Ozzie ........................... Page 5

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ............................ Page 2

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INDEX State News .................... Page 2 Legals/Jail Register ...... Page 3 Community News ......... Page 4-6 Feature Story ................. Page 7 Obituaries ...................... Page 8 Classifieds ..................... Page 12

Today’s Weather

High: 100° Low: 75°

The Real Shooters, the Real County Light Rifle shooting team, Kaydie Light, & Kylie Taylor, see story page 2

Water News and River Flows River flows were taken on the Frio, Nueces and South Llano Rivers August 6th and 7th with flows still above last summers’ levels; but down from the measurements two weeks ago. The flows have decreased on average 25% since two weeks ago but are still at levels that have moving water in most locations, floating trips are getting harder to do because of the diminishing water levels. Temperatures are remaining in the upper 90’s on most days and the forecast is calling for a slight chance of rainfall but I am not going to hold my breath for that. As I drive across the District I am seeing very dry areas that do not look like they received rainfall a few months ago. The May rains brought a great surge in grass

Collard comes to the project from Rock Island, Illinois, where he was the Assistant City Director of Public Works. Collard, originally from Texas, said “I have always dreamed of living in the Texas Hill Country.” With 35 years of Water/ Wastewater Management experience, Collard was a perfect fit to get this project started. He said “A good contractor and a great foreman are the keys to a successful project.” Collard indicated there are several loose ends to tie up, easements, etc., but the major hurdles have been completed. The monthly status report from Naismith Engineering indicated the same progress. After visiting with Collard and having the hardcopy timeline in my hand, along with the bids being published, I am confident this project is on its way!

by: Joel Pigg, General Manager, RECRD

and brush growth (there was green and lushness everywhere) and now that moisture is gone and the pastures are looking brown and dry, with this said we all need to be very cautious about outdoor activities that have flames or sparks associated with them; it will not take much for a pasture to catch fire and spread rapidly with the afternoon winds we have been experiencing. We have a great fuel load in most pastures and need to be aware that just one spark could overextend our volunteer fire fighters in all of our small communities. The following is the most current flow rates for our District. Fulgham’s Crossing just south of the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment had a flow of 34,462 gpm continued page 9

The Spirit of ‘45 The series called the Spirit of ‘45 has been a joy to write, just to visit with veterans of the highest caliber, this America’s Greatest Generation. This coming Sunday, August 9, Congress has set aside as a day of recognition and remembrance of the contributions of World War II veterans. My Spirit of ‘45 series was formed at the request of my special friend, Mary Virginia Pittman-Waller of San Antonio and Utopia whose own father was a World War II veteran, as was my Dad, to

The new Utility Director for the Nueces River Authority, Mike Collard, has released a bid schedule for the much anticipated Leakey Wastewater Treatment Facility Project. In an interview this week, Collard discussed the time line for several stages of construction for the project. The first two construction bids (see page 3) for the Office/Lab and the TxDOT Subset (work to be completed in conjunction with TxDOT highway improvements) will be advertised through August and awarded in September. Substantial Completion for the Office/Lab is listed as February of 2016 and January 2016 for the TxDOT Subset. The Wastewater treatment plant bid is scheduled for publication later this month, with Substantial Completion in April of 2017. Wow, been waiting for that for awhile!

by Billie Franklin

make a pathway of appreciation for these old soldiers. It is sad but true that we are losing these special people at a tremendous rate. It has been 70 years since the close of World War II. What made these men and women so special we ask? Having gone through the Great Depression, doing without, going hungry, working at any job they could find, helping their parents out by working at an early age, and never quitting until the body wore out, are traits that our other generations lack,

and America is all the better for these men and women. I’d like to close this series with the names of those we have lost that I know about. They are: Roland A. Blair, Hubbard “Hub” Oran Boultinghouse, Frank Carrasco, Bill Chamberlin, Wayne Cheney, Howard Webster Cole, Christopher Victor “Vic” Copplinger, James Arthur “Jay” Howard, Jr., Pierce Kellogg, Kenneth Kline, Pedro “Pete” Leos, Sr., Jiggs Lieman and husband Charles Lieman, William “Bill” John

Mechler, Tommy Oliphant, Albert Austin “Pete” Schaefer, Troy Smith, Charles Pinkney Spangler, Jr., Charles Pinkney Spangler, Sr., William S. Smith, Charles I. Suehs, and Howard Wakefield, Sr. I promise I will not forget them. The ones remaining are in their late 80’s and 90’s, and will soon be gone. Such special people deserve our respect and admiration, and I am glad that Congress is paying tribute to them.


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