50
Current Weekly News for Leakey, Camp Wood, Sabinal, Utopia and Surrounding Areas Vol. 7 No. 8
INSIDE
www.hillcountryherald.net
Tri-Canyon’s Only Weekly Newspaper!
February 22, 2017
editor@hillcountryherald.net
Friends of the Library “Sterling Mardi Gras” Just Around the Corner by Patti Berkstresser
Texas Lions Camp Needs Campers ............................ Page 9
The 2017 Friends of the Library “Sterling Mardi Gras” Gala, celebrating 25 years of Library Magic, will be held on Saturday, February 25. The planning committee is happy to announce the Gala is a SOLD OUT event. Event attendees will include many local community members, as well as friends and family from many cities across the state, including Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Uvalde, San Angelo and Odessa. The event co-chairs, Christy Mensi and Patti Berkstresser, extend their heartfelt gratitude to their hard working planning committee: Mary Forman, Deana Hickman, Anissa Reagor, Vickie Crispin, Helen Stephens, Pat Walzel, Sandi Patrick, Pam Gasper, Jan Strauss and Gale Huckaby. Thanks also go out to the many auction item donors, in-kind donors, and volunteers who help execute the plan for a success-
ful evening benefiting the Real County Public Library Leakey. Heightened success is achieved through the support of the generous underwriters and sponsors, recognized below. Event Underwriters Hill Country Telephone Cooperative RiverHead Ranch, LLC Downtown Leakey, Inc. Platinum Sponsors Judy & Carl Wood Clink! Slainté!
The Leakey Inn Texarome Bronze Sponsors Dee & Dave Mellott Kay & Bailey Anderson Monica & Gary Noska Deep Creek Ranch Real Rentals Corral RV Park Cypress Frio Waters Custom Building & Remodeling, LLC Mike & LeAnn Crawford Tamela & David Weber The “Sterling Mardi Gras” Gala promises to be a fun-filled event with hopes for record fundraising. All proceeds from the event are dedicated to the operations and growth of our wonderful and state recognized Real County Public Library Leakey. The support of the local community is much appreciated!
Canyon Charm/Bobby Jack Rushing, Attorney at Law Texas Title Network, LP Frio Canyon Vineyard Gold Sponsors Frio Canyon Real Estate Catahoula Artisan Gallery Pam & Steve Gasper Leakey Liquors/Leakey Mercantile Hickman, Kendrick, Thompson & Brezina The Hondo National Bank Silver Sponsors JR Construction Dr. Rachel Yates & Kent Yates CountyWide Air & Heat
............................ Page 8
Constitutional Sheriffs & Peace Officers Association Announces Edwards County Sheriff as “Sheriff of the Year” submitted by CSPOA
............................ Page 7
........................... Page 4
CaddelSmith Chapter Meeting
The CSPOA is proud to announce its Sheriff of the Year recipient for 2016 as Sheriff Pamela Elliott of Edwards County, Texas. Sheriff Elliot has very unique qualifications for this award; having served with distinction and honor as a United States Marine and a U.S. Army Officer assigned in the prestige position as an Inspector General and also as a Peace Officer in Gilbert, Arizona as a detective and a member of their Emergency Response Unit as a hostage negotiator. Most importantly, the CSPOA recognizes law enforcement professionals from across the country who have dedicated themselves to law and order, upholding the Oath of Office, and defending the United States Constitution. Sheriff Elliott has done all of this and much more. W noticed the extreme attacks aimed at Sheriff Elliott during her recent re-election bid and found attacks against her alarming and absurd. She was actually
assailed for having her deputies providing security at polling places. This a common practice and is done many places nationwide. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for Sheriffs to ensure the integrity of vote counting and to transport the tallied votes to the county recorders for final accounting. Despite the horrible accusations and flat out misrepresentations, Sheriff Elliott maintained her dignity and performed her duties in an exemplary manner and even earned the Law Enforcement Officer Life Saving Award with “Valor” while sacrificing her own life to save the lives of others during the Brown Ranch Fires. Finally, Sheriff Elliott has stood against local corruption and did her job to stand for truth. She has not played the “go along to get along” political game that so many politicians expect. She has stood strong
Water News and River Flows
INDEX Legals/Jail Register ... . Page 3Community News ......... Page 4-7 Feature Story ............... Page 8-9 Obituaries ...................... Page 10 Classifieds ..................... Page 14
Today’s Weather
High: 85° Low: 53°
A new face at Leakey School!
There is a new face at Leakey School these days, and it is Taylor Navarro, the School Nurse. The position was vacant for over four years when the District’s Site Base Committee made up of Dr. Barbara Skipper, Gerald Lugaresi, Pat Sewell, Rick Davis, J. Lopez, David Allen, Amy Bates, Juanita Buchanan, Lorri Gonzalez, Linda Massmann, Leslie Rodriguez, and Leticia Rodriguez in this year’s first meeting, put as their number one district goal to add a “dedicated school nurse”. Funding the position has been a challenge; however, Dr. Barbara Skipper noted that the district receives REAP funds via a district grant and the amount has increased due to the increase in students. The Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) initiatives are designed to help rural districts by adding support to campus Title I programs. Since Leakey School is a Title I School-wide campus, she proposed to the Board that the district add
honor to call Sheriff Pamela Elliott the 2016 CSPOA Sheriff of the Year!
By: Joel Pigg, General Manager
Flows at all crossings on the Frio River were taken on February 20th, 2017. I received 1.9” of rainfall on Sunday evening, February 20th at my house in Leakey and we got 0.4” at the office in Camp Wood from that same storm. Fulgham’s Crossing just south of the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment had a flow of 36,479 gpm in January and now has a flow of 50,279 gpm; this is an increase in flow of about 73%. Several of the pipes at this crossing are clogged with gravel and it is going to take another large flow of water to get them cleaned out. The pipes on the south end of the crossing are now completely clogged with
............................ Page 9
............................ Page 13
and proud for her constituents and for American Liberty. It is our privilege and
a part-time school nurse position using those funds. As a result, Mrs. Navarro started at Leakey School after Christmas and is at the school from 8:30-1:00 each day. Her office faces the back parking lot, close to the elementary part of the campus. Mrs. Navarro has already started a safety assessment of the campus and as a result, will be adding another AED (Automated External Defibrillator) closer to the elementary building. In addition, her first task was to complete a state audit of the district’s immunization records. She noted that 99% of Leakey students complete their immunizations with only two families opting out due to medical (for instance allergies) or religious reasons. Mrs. Navarro says “I love working at Leakey School!” Dr. Skipper said Mrs. Navarro is a good fit for the needs of the program. “She is great with the kids and already knows most of them. We are fortunate to have her here.”
gravel. The Leakey Springs crossing had a flow of 5,367 gpm last measurement, and a flow of 5,085 gpm this reading; a 5% decrease in flow since the last measurement. This is the only crossing that showed a decrease in flow this measurement. The Mill Creek Crossing also showed an increase in flow this measurement it showed an increase of about 37% in flow since the last measurement; there are culverts on the south end of this crossing that continue to have no flow. This crossing has a flow of 24,816 gpm this measurement which is up from the last measurement of 15,651 gpm. continued page 6