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Tri-Canyon’s Only Weekly Newspaper!
Current Weekly News for Leakey, Camp Wood, Sabinal, Utopia and Surrounding Areas Vol. 6 No. 28
INSIDE
www.hillcountryherald.net
editor@hillcountryherald.net
July 13, 2016
IS IT TIME FOR AN EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT IN REAL COUNTY? by Julie Becker
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A Time To Come Together ............................ Page 3
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FEELING BETTER REQUIRES BALANCE ............................ Page 9
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STARGAZING AND BATVIEWING PROGRAM ............................ Page 6
An Emergency Services District (ESD) is a grassroots government created by voters in an area to fund fire protection, emergency medical services, or both. More than 300 districts are operating in Texas, and more are added at almost every uniform election date. Each year Real County fulfills a contract for service payment to several Emergency Services in our area. Real County disburses to the Divide Volunteer Fire Department $500; Frio Canyon EMS $1500; Leakey VFD $1000; Nueces Canyon EMS $1500; Nueces Canyon VFD $1000 and Reagan Wells VFD $500 for a total of $6000 annually. Under the Texas Constitution, ESDs may levy a tax rate of no more than 10 cents per $100 of property value in their district. For a home on the tax rolls at $150,000, that’s an annual tax of $150, or $12.50 a month.
Residents of an area may petition for an election to create an ESD. The county receives the petition for creation of an ESD, and the county commissioners court holds a hearing on the matter. If the commissioners court finds the district is “feasible and will promote the public safety, welfare, health and convenience” of residents of the proposed district, it will grant the petition for an election. Once an ESD is approved by the voters, the commissioners court appoints five members to the ESD Board of Commissioners to serve staggered, two-year terms. An ESD board may be required to submit several reports. If requested by the commissioners court before Dec. 31, a written report is required no later than Feb. 1 to the commissioners court “regarding the district’s administration for the preceding
calendar year and the district’s financial condition.” I know speaking out loud about taxes right now is taboo, but Real County is growing and with that growth comes an extra burden on our local services. Real County Commissioner’s have done a excellent job in years past maintaining financial stability with taxpayer dollars. Real County currently has CD’s that total $1,076,487.34 and an operating balance of 1,250,348.17 (this report is available online http:
//tools.cira.state.tx.us/users/0126/Treasurer%20Report%2006-1316.pdf). However, has the time come to spend more of
our tax dollars on EMS and Fire Department services? The most recent 4th of July holiday stretched the local services to their limits, and with most of the manpower coming from volunteers, is the breaking point fast approaching?
The 55th Annual Old Settlers Reunion - August 5 & 6th It’s that time of year again – for the 55th Annual Old Settlers Reunion in the heart of downtown Camp Wood! This year’s Reunion will be held on Friday, August 5 and Saturday, August 6. The festivities will begin with the Ex-Students Reunion on Friday evening in Lindbergh park. The ex-students and teachers of Nueces Canyon, Camp Wood, Barksdale, Vance, Hackberry, etc. will rejoin for fellowship and fun. The festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday morning the festivities kick off at 10:00 a.m. with the parade. The crowning of the Old Settlers King and Queen will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the park and immediately following will be the Pie and Salsa Auctions. Those wanting to enter the Pie and Salsa contests must have their entries to the stage at the park between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. There are two pie contests this year: Pecan Pie and Open Pies. There will be first, second and third place plaques given for the winners in the Pie and Salsa Contests. Throughout the day there will be games for kids, arts and crafts, and lots of food. There will also be a horse shoe and washer tournament. Stage entertainment this year will led by Tejano DJ Mario Rangel. He will be providing entertainment throughout the day along with beautiful “Florico Dancers”, the fantastic “In-A-Jam Bluegrass Band,” and San Antonio’s own “Cadence Cloggers.” Plan to spend your afternoon in the park listening and seeing some great performances! On Saturday evening there will be a Rodeo at the Bruce Park Arena starting at 7:00 p.m. The action will begin with the Joe Cox Barrel Race
Water News and River Flows As I sit here to update the flow readings and check the forecast, I see that we have a few very slight chances for showers over the next week to ten days. But we will have temperatures around the century mark over this same period. The rivers are still looking good at this time but the levels are falling quickly. June rainfall totals at my office in Camp Wood were 1.1” and thus far I have recorded 0” for July. We have quite a fuel load with the spring rain and we know the heat of Texas in July and August is here for a while. Continue to be conservative with your watering of gardens and lawns; only water in the mornings and evening when the wind is calmer and the sun does not cause the water to evaporate immediately. Lawns do not need to be watered every day, every third or fourth day is sufficient to keep the lawn green, growing and healthy. Watering the lawn on a daily basis sets you up for disease issues and shallow rooting which makes your
followed by the Fred Wall Bull Riding. At 9:00 p.m. on Friday there will be a street dance in front of the fire department building in Camp wood. Everyone plan to come join us in Camp Wood, Texas on August 5th and 6th!
By: Joel Pigg, General Manager
lawn more apt to be harmed by the heat. Flows at all crossings on the Frio River were taken on July 6th. Fulgham’s Crossing just south of the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment had a flow of 92,675 gpm last measurement and now has a flow of 30,939 gpm; this is about a 67% decrease. All of the culverts at this crossing were flowing really well. The Leakey Springs crossing had a flow of 7,159 gpm last measurement, and a flow of 5,487 gpm this reading; a nearly 24% reduction in flow since the last measurement. The Mill Creek Crossing showed a reduction of about 50% 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 17,034 gpm this measurement which is down from the last measurement of 35,228 gpm. I expect all of these crossings to be flowing considerably lower and slower when I go back to take measurements in a couple of weeks. continued on page 11
DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS CLOSING CEREMONY by Billie Nast
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INDEX Legals/Jail Register .... Page 3-4 Community News ......... Page 5-7 Feature Story ............... Page 8-9 Obituaries ...................... Page 10 Classifieds ..................... Page 14
Today’s Weather
High: 97° Low: 72°
One year ago July 10, 2015 was the last day the Daughters of the Republic of Texas were the caretakers of the Alamo. They had served the fallen and the people of Texas for 110 years. Well done good and faithful servants! The President General invited all the Daughters to attend the Closing Ceremony at 5:00 P.M. on July 10, 2015. Daughters were there from near and far, San Antonio, Arlington, Goliad, Houston, Utopia to name a few. Our local CaddelSmith Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was represented. There were Alamo Re enactors as well as a Musical Salute, “Ladies of the Alamo” by Sue Brannon and Steve Linley of Black Bexar Bagpipes. It was a very solemn and emotional ceremony. The Board of Management of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas filed by to stand along side The Daughters attending. The President General, Dr. Betty Edwards, came out the front door of the Alamo. She welcomed those attending and spoke of the years of devotion The Daughters have shown The Alamo and the memory of the Fallen Defenders. Dr. Edwards said The Daughters will not physically be saying their Daily Morning Prayers for the
Defenders, they would be offering the prayers at this time. Dr. Edwards first prayed in Danish and then in German. Another Daughter stepped forward and
said the prayer in Spanish and then another Daughter stepped forward and said the prayer in English. Men from different countries and different states defended and died at The Alamo. For 106 years, without state money assistance, The Daughters operated and improved The Alamo using money from their gift shop and donations. Over the years, millions of school children and international visitors have visited The Alamo free of charge. The Legacy of the Alamo will live on in the hearts of The Daughters and all Texans forever. The Texas flag was lowered, folded and presented to Dr. Edwards to be treasured as the flag that flew over The Alamo on The Daughters’ last day as caretakers. A year can mean a lot of changes. The Alamo does not change. The cause men fought and died for – Freedom - does not change. The Daughters will continue their work to tell the story of Texas and instill a love for this great state. “The Alamo is not ancient history. It is no more ancient than love is an old story, for nothing is ancient and nothing is old which every day teaches something that is fine, beautiful and brave.” – Richard H Davis 1892