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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. 4
INSIDE
Chicken & Dumpling Dinner fundraiser
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www.hillcountryherald.net
editor@hillcountryherald.net
January 28, 2015
PIONEERS YOUTH LEADERSHIP STUDENTS ATTEND STATE FORUM
High school students from area schools in Pioneers Youth Leadership attended the Pioneers State Leadership Forum in Austin last week. Over two days, the students worked with state agencies and elected officials to address the challenges faced by rural Texas communities regarding water conservation, youth leadership education, and economic development. The Pioneers students and leadership and staff from the Texas Water Development Board worked together on youth water conservation education modeled after programs the students had conducted in their schools. The students also worked with leadership and staff from the Texas Department of Agriculture to develop ideas for new businesses in rural communities and the Texas Education Agency on teaching youth leadership and character development in schools. continued page 2
IBC Bank Funds Scholarship Burk Feed Saturday February 7th from 9am to 1pm ............................ Page 9
ISIS… AT IT AGAIN
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Eagle Pass, Texas-Héctor J. Cerna, President and CEO of the International Bank of Commerce and the President of Sul Ross State University, Dr. Bill Kibler, signed a scholarship agreement on Friday, Jan. 23 in Eagle Pass. The Antonio R. Sanchez, Sr. Memorial Scholarship will provide $1,000 per semester to the Sul Ross Rio Grande College student who receives the need-based award and it is available for bachelor’s and master’s degree seeking students. To earn the scholarship, a student must display a “Do More” attitude by demonstrating leadership and service in student and community affairs. The full-time student will maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and will complete the Financial Literacy course offered on the recipient’s home campus. This is one of several groundbreaking scholarships that offers students the opportunity to learn more about how to manage personal finance, including student debt. The scholarship will be available beginning with the fall 2015 semester and the application will be available later this year. Dr. Paul Sorrels, Associate Provost/Dean for Sul Ross Rio Grande College said, “We are deeply appreciative of IBC and Héctor Cerna for making this scholarship and the financial literacy instruction available to our students. As a ‘community university’ and a community bank, this partnership serves our institutions’ goals to better prepare our students to contribute to the Eagle Pass community.”
By Laura Nelson
Dr. Paul Sorrels, far left, expressed his appreciation to IBC Bank for funding a new scholarship for Sul Ross Rio Grande College students. Seated are Sul Ross State University President Bill Kibler, left, and President and CEO of IBC Bank Héctor Cerna.-Laura Nelson photo
LEAKEY/NUECES RIVER AUTHORITY WASTEWATER PROJECT STATUS by Julie Becker
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As the construction timeline draws near, status of the Leakey/NRA Wastewater project is on the front burner. NRA Director Con Mims said “ As for the Utility Director position, the deadline for receiving applications is this Friday, January 30. To date, I have received twelve (12) applications. During February, a committee of my Board members, Tom Brown, Adam Luke, and I will conduct interviews. We hope to have the successful applicant employed
by March 1. “This will allow construction funding to be released. Construction of the TxDOT portion of the collection system is scheduled to begin in April, in coordination with TxDOT’s contractor. Construction of the wastewater treatment plant is slated to begin this summer, and the collection system construction will begin afterwards in the fall and into 2016 said Adam M. Luke, P.E.Naismith Engineering, Inc.
The Spirit of ‘45 ............................ Page 11
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: 75° Low: 46°
continued page 3
Architectural sketch of Future Plant Office
by Billie Franklin
Albert Herdina, an immigrant to America from Austria, met American born future wife, Anna Miesler, through a mutual friend. He did not hesitate to remind their children, what America meant to him. One of three children, Helen was born in 1923 and went to school in St. Paul, Minnesota. When she graduated high school, she went to work at the phone company as an operator. She earned $14 dollars a week and paid her parents room and board, a common practice during the depression years. At age 19, she became a supervisor. Helen’s brother had heart problems and could not serve in the military. However in 1943, she and her sister, Mary, volunteered to serve since he could not. Mary went in as an officer; Helen was enlisted. Helen began at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and went on to Fort Riley, Kansas, as a telephone operator. In 1944, Helen volunteered for overseas duty. She was sent to New York State for training. With the Army, she moved to Hampton Roads, Virginia. By May, 1945, she found herself aboard ship, a two weeks crossing. They were headed for Africa. A fond story that she recalls was that the ladies were issued only 2 helmets of water per day for personal use, washing clothing, and bathing. Just about anything that stuck out or up, had someone’s personal item hanging out to dry. Full of stories, she also recalled playing poker with the paratroopers, not for money, for cigarettes! She didn’t even smoke! On D-day, still in her memory, were the starving Italian children of Naples who
were looking for food in garbage cans. The ladies gave them candy. The German army had stripped everything from the University, faucets, everything. Helen’s group was only there for a short while. Soon, they were taken to a relay station on the Libyan Desert. She recalles the marked differece in temperature and how cold it would be at night. She remained a telephone operator until they moved on to base headquarters. She then became an office clerk. She came back by ship to the east coast. She joined the Air Force reserves. Her sister became her immediate superior. Then she recruited for the Air Force for 19 months and loved it. One month she took off and hitchhiked in Germany, France, Scotland, and England. She has also been to the Holy Land and Egypt. Loved travelling. After Korea, she was stationed at Carswell AFB at Fort Worth. She got married and her husband was transferred to California. Once married, she was out of the service, however, she could move to be with him. And move she did, to Germany, Hawaii, all over California, and finally retired in San Antonio. Together they had 6 children. She lost her husband in 1982. She keeps up with the grandchildren by attending school events. When I asked her how she felt about serving her country, her roots revealed her true spirit. “What about what America did for me!” she exclaimed. She is deeply aware how lucky she is to be an American; her dad taught her well.