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Current Weekly News for Leakey, Camp Wood, Sabinal, Utopia and Surrounding Areas Vol. 8 No. 4
INSIDE THE TAIL OF TWO TRUCKS .......................... Page 4
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REAL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WANTED PERSONS AND FUGITIVES ............................ Page 3
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JUST FOR GRINS
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Texas Awards Millions for Mental Health
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INDEX Legals/Jail Register ... . Page 3Community News ......... Page 4-6 Feature Story ................ Page 7 Community Events.........Page 8-9 Obituaries ...................... Page 10 Classifieds ..................... Page 14
Today’s Weather
High: 63° Low: 36°
www.hillcountryherald.net
Tri-Canyon’s Only Weekly Newspaper! January 24, 2018
editor@hillcountryherald.net
BECKER ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR LEAKEY MAYOR There are many reasons I have decided to run for Mayor of the City of Leakey. I love this community and I am active in several areas, which through the years, have allowed me to experience the challenges our City faces from many different perspectives. I have heard people comment regarding their concern about the economic future of our City. I have been involved first hand in the trials our local businesses face every day. I have lived here for 18 years. I have worked as a contractor with my own business for over 15 years, and as such, not only do I understand the challenges facing local businesses, but I deal with them personally. I raised my children here, and have been active in the community, coaching little league girls’ softball for 4 years, and little league baseball for 2 years. I helped start and assisted in the funding of the Leakey Helping Hands Food Pantry. I have been active in assisting the Chamber of Commerce set up, run, and clean up many events for the past 4 years. I have been the president of the Real County Jr Horse Club for the past 3 years. I personally heard our city leader say, “THIS TOWN IS DYING, at a recent meeting.” I disagree, I believe with competent leadership, creating a sense of community, together, we can make this town grow and prosper. I want to meet the challenges head-on we face as a historical community, balancing the future and the past in a manner that works toward an end result that both respects our heritage and encourages our progress. I would like to see City Ordinances enacted that prevent the things that happened in Bandera, TX from
happening in our home town of Leakey. Business will come, but by enacting City Ordinances we can control where they are located and what they can legally do, what types and kinds of signage can line our City Streets, as well as trash and refuse along our Main Street. If we wait until they are here, it is too late to stop them. I would also like to address the City Water and Sewer Ordinances and make certain they are sufficient to cover the challenges that lay ahead in that area. I would like to see some improvements in the City Government, such as online bill pay and the City
Office open for our citizens 5 days a week. Possibly, make the City Agendas more inclusive of the community; such as an open forum in our meetings so we can get more people involved in the City Government. The City of Leakey belongs to all of us who call it home, I’d like to include everyone. I would like 100% transparency in the City Government, and to work on repairing the City’s relationship with the County, so we can all work together in an effort to improve our community. I want to work hard to bring new business into the City. Imagine Holiday Decorations along our Main Street, maybe local businesses that can afford to give a 10% discount to our local citizens. I also want to set up a meeting with local property owners or their staff to discuss the future of the empty buildings on our square. Last, and far from least, the sewer and streets. I would like to take a proactive approach, get an accurate map of the water and sewer lines and push for the completion of these projects without further delay. Maybe form a citizens committee to see how this project is truly affecting our citizens and our businesses. I’d like to build some kind of park at the sewer plant and work on beautification of that area using grant funds. I have been a part of this community for many years and I have watched it grow. Of course, we all have ideas about how to make things better… I’d like to hear your ideas. I would like to bring this community together in a positive way to make sure that when changes come, we are ready for them! In closing I am asking that you come to the poll and vote in new blood for city council as well as myself, for Mayor.
RECRD OFFICE MOVES TO LEAKEY On December 11, 2017 the Board of Directors of the Real Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District held a special called meeting. The current Board of Directors: Pt 1 – Edwards County: Grady Douglass Pt 2 – Real County: Duane Wilson Pt 3 – Edwards County: Glynn Hendley Pt 4 – Real County: Bob Burditt, VicePresident Pt 5 – Edwards County: Sam Epperson Pt 6 – Real County: Martin Martinez, Secretary Pt 7 – Edwards County: Stan Cottle Position 8 – Real County: Roland Trees, President At-large: Rudy Gonzalez Directors present at the meeting were Stan Cottle, Sam Epperson, Martin Martinez, Bob Burditt and Roland Trees. On the
agenda was discussion and possible action on acquisition of new office building located at 234 Evergreen, Leakey, Texas. Board members reviewed both the April 2016 and December 2017 real estate appraisals for the location. Board members and General Manager Joel Pigg discussed the financial status of the District and feasibility of paying for the new office location. Pigg informed the Board members that Garry Merritt is asking the price of $160,000. for the building and office furniture. Board members authorized Pigg to enter into negoations with Merritt to purchase the office building beginning offer to begin at $150,000, not to exceed $160,000. If an agreed upon price is reached, Pigg is authorized to sign financial documents required by lender or law. Motion by Martinez, seconded by Cottle.
by Julie Becker
Board members approved written notice to be sent to the Nueces Canyon Chamber of Commerce to terminate the rental lease on the building in Camp Wood. Board members adopted a Resolution affixing the location of the General Office and domicle of the District per Section 15 of the District’s Enabling Legislation. Pigg reviewed the board members that will be up for election in 2018. With no further business the meeting was adjourned. Pigg advised the Herald this week the sales price of the property was accepted at $155,000 with financing provided by the People’s State Bank in Rocksprings. The RECRD is funded by tax dollars from both Real and Edwards Counties and District fees for applications and permits.
numerous Groundwater Districts in Texas and was established under House Bill 447 in 1959 by the 56th Texas Legislature to manage the groundwater in Edwards and Real Counties. Over the years, the District became inactive and in the late 1990’s it appeared that it would be dissolved by state regulatory agencies. In 2000, thru the work of county officials and a group of concerned citizens the District was re-organized and regained its active status. Rules were passed and became effective January 2002. More information can be obtained at www.recrd.org
The Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District is one of the
Headwaters of the Frio Marathon/Half-Marathon
by Tim
Campbell
Headwaters of the Frio The ranch is a place of epic Marathon/Half-Marathon beauty, named for where the very set for April 7 near Leakey headwaters of the Frio River begin Event date: April 7, 2018, at the “Big Springs”, located on on the Big Springs Ranch the property. In fact, the ranch for Children, Leakey, TX was used for the 1970s Pearl Beer Event: Run/hike through commercials that featured it as “The stunning wilderness Country of 1100 Springs”, and it pathways across 7,050 acres lives up to its billing, with springs in Frio Canyon. If you like and tributaries of the Frio bursting to run or hike, enjoy spring from hillsides and caves. beauty in the Texas Hill Today, Big Springs Ranch for Country, and are inclined Children is home to children who to help children have a have been rescued from abuse, good life, then the April abandonment, and severe trauma. 7 Headwaters of the Frio Big Springs Ranch is a sister campus Marathon/Half-Marathon to Hill Country Youth Ranch in at Big Springs Ranch for Ingram, and both embody the same Children near Leakey core philosophy of rebuilding trust is the event for you. All in traumatized children through love, these elements will come patience, and family-style living. together during a familyTogether, the ranches are home to friendly weekend with Bryce Gaudian, Race Director for the upcoming Headwaters of the Frio Marathon, and a group of ranch athletes test out the race course 110 children at any given time, ages at the Big Springs Ranch for Children North of Leakey fun, food, and purpose. five to 18, and both campuses include You can take part in the a village of spacious homes, along was owned by Oma Bell Perry and her two sisters, run/hike, attend in support with charter school facilities where all great-grandnieces of Stephen F. Austin, Father of a friend or team, or volunteer to help us host the the children can learn in small class settings geared to of Texas. In 1995, after 70 years of cattle and goat participants, including manning water stations along meet the educational needs of each individual student. the trail, working onsite registration, guiding runners, ranching, Oma Bell, a true pioneer woman, and the Healing abused children can take many years, starting last surviving sister, offered the ranch to Gary Priour, or serving food. Scheduled the weekend after Easter, with providing a safe place to live, an environment Founder of Hill Country Youth Ranch, because it was where love abounds, and restoration can begin one and at the beginning of spring’s outburst of color and her family’s vision to have their ranch become home new life, the event offers a chance to spend time on step at a time. to, and a place of healing for, abused and abandoned one of the most beautiful and historic ranches in all of continued page 3 children, and she admired what Gary had done at Hill Texas. For most of the Twentieth Century, the ranch Country Youth Ranch in Ingram, just 50 miles away.