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Current Weekly News for Leakey, Camp Wood, Sabinal, Utopia and Surrounding Areas Vol. 5 No. 10
INSIDE
Somewhere in the West
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REAL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTE TO ELIMINATE JP POSITION by Julie Becker
At Monday’s Real County Commissioner’s Court, Commissioners voted to redistrict the Real County Justice Precincts from two Justice Precincts to one Justice Precinct. The motion was approved 3-0. Real County Commissioners Joe Connell and Gene Buckner were not present. In a telephone interview both Connell and Buckner said they favored the measure, as cost saving to the county. Connell noted the future plan for the Real County Sheriff’s office is to hire another deputy, thereby
facilitating two law enforcement officers for each community in Real County. A public hearing was held on the redistricting on February 26, with limited community attendance. Real County Judge Garry Merritt stated the redistricting would also reduce the current Real County Constable’s positions to one. Currently the Constable Pct. 3&4 position remains unfilled following the resignation of longtime Constable Joe Tolleson last year. Though the measure was voted on and passed, it will not take
effect until the current JP’s terms expire. JP Pct 1&2 Dianne Rogers and JP Pct 3&4 J.D. Martinez both began new four year terms in January 2015. In other business Commissioners approved a Resolution supporting Keep Texas Beautiful organization and establishing a Keep It Real-ly Beautiful Committee, as part of the recycling movement in Real County. Commissioners also approved a Resolution opposing state mandated revenue caps on local government. The Resolu-
CONTROL AND HEAL TYPE 2 DIABETES PART II ............................ Page 9
tion states in part “revenue caps would diminish local control and would tie the hands of Commissioners Court by limiting its ability to provide services like libraries, EMS response, 4-H and Extension Service, nutrition programs, and other essential services; such caps would shift local control to the Texas Legislature in Austin just like what happened in California, thereby making it difficult for the citizens of Real County to have a voice in the way their local tax dollars are spent.”
Sabinal Band Students Have Outstanding Concert Zach Sims
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March 11, 2015
editor@hillcountryherald.net
submitted by Sabinal Band Director
Seven of Sabinal’s junior high band students earned a spot in the Region 11 All-Region band. The participants had an all-day clinic to prepare several pieces of music that they performed at Pleasanton High School to a crowd of parents and family members. The results were as follows: - Nadia Castanon, 1st chair Flute in the Concert Band - Makayla Hidalgo, 15th chair Clarinet in the Concert Band - Sarah Alejandro, 9th chair Trumpet in the Symphonic Band - Kamryn Chapman, 2nd chair French Horn in the Concert Band - Gloria Romero, 8th chair Trombone in the Symphonic Band - Adyson Martin, 5th chair Tuba in the Symphonic Band - Raegan Cox, 2nd chair Tuba in the Symphonic Band Sabinal students were competing against other musicians from 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A schools. They did a great job at the competition, and represented Sabinal well. Congratulation again to these left to right are: Raegan Cox, Tuba Kamryn Chapman, French Horn Makayla Hidalgo, Clarinet Nadia Castanon, Flute Gloria Romero, outstanding musicians. Trombone Sarah Alejandro, Trumpet Adyson Martin, Tuba
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Highway “Welcome Home” RIB DINNER ............................ Page 2
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DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION ADMIRE DISPLAY FOR VETERANS OF VIETNAM WAR ............................ Page 6
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: 70° Low: 44°
by Billie Franklin
On Sunday, March 8, the Texas “Welcome Home” Run, 13th edition, began at Perryton, Texas on U.S. Hwy. 83. By Tuesday March 10 at 9 am, they gathered at the Texas Department of Transportation office north of Leakey to be led through Leakey. Seen leading the parade is Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Castro with lights flashing and the rumble of motorcycles following behind. They are scheduled
to end their run at Veterans Park in Brownsville today at noon. The purpose of the run is to honor Vietnam veterans as well as all other veterans. On hand, waving a huge American flag, are J.C. and Brenda Vickers of Sabinal. Welcome to Leakey, and thanks for honoring our service men and women. Hope to see you again next year.
The Spirit of ‘45 A. G. Hood was born in Weslaco in 1927. His family soon moved to Mission. His first job was at the age of 7. He shined shoes, sold newspapers and greeting cards. When he was 13, his dad went blind. Next, he became a soda jerk at Mission Drug Store, working from 4 to 10 pm, after school. He was a student at Mission High School and as a sophomore at age 17, with written permission from his Dad, joined the Navy. He received his basic training at San Diego. When aboard ship, the men were separated according to education. Those without a high school diploma, himself included, were assigned to deck force maintenance, and those with high school or more education were given less demanding jobs. At that point, he realized that having an education was what he wanted more than anything. He then went on to be a part in the invasion of Japan. He recalls that on August 6, 1945, he and the other men on deck were told to wear their safety glasses. All the men saw was a flash, not realizing that the first atomic had been dropped.
by Billie Franklin
Shortly after the surrender, his ship went into Tokyo Bay and spent two months there. During the day, they would go ashore. but at night because of the danger, they would come back aboard. He remembered how the Japanese would bow reverently to the sailors in their summer whites. To the Japanese, he later learned, the color white was a symbol of the gods. They next went to Korea, then in a short while, they headed to China. The men were issued a 72 hour pass and were told they could choose to see the Great Wall of China or go to the girls. Only one of three, he chose to visit the Great Wall. It was an awesome experience, one he will never forget. Next they went home via Philadelphia and he received his discharge from Camp Wallace. Back home, he went to the principal and the superintendent, explaining that he wanted to get a high school diploma. They suggested that he get his GED, but he wanted to graduate with a class, walk across the stage and get a diploma. So, he tested out and was placed as a senior and joined
the class of 1947 from which he graduated. While a senior, he directed several plays. Part-time, he worked for the Valley Monitor newspaper. He went to the junior college at Edinburg and was in the naval reserves. This was interrupted by a 6 month stint in the reserves, teaching new recruits to handle a destroyer stationed in New Orleans. During that time, he got a chance to see several ports, ending at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After that, he returned to the Valley Monitor and met Rita Williams in 1949 who was from the Sharyland Community. They were married in 1952 and still are together. The result of that union was 3 sons, 7 grand children, and 6 great-grandchildren, who live all over the U. S. Two years later, he went for an interview and landed a job with Colgate Palmolive as a sales representative serving all over south Texas. He worked there for 36 years and was honored in the company’s Hall of Fame in New York City. He retired in 1989. He is a lifetime member of the McAllen Lions Club, worked with the Lions Club Boy Scouts Troop 13 for 10 years, and coached Little League. They moved to Leakey in 2000 and immediately became a part of the Leakey Lions Club. He is past president of the Frio Canyon Park Association, is involved in the Big Springs Youth Auxiliary for Children, works at the Thrift Store to support the Big Springs Ranch Youth, is a member of the Frio Canyon Players who put on a melodrama every Labor Day weekend, belongs to the Leakey Methodist Church and has received various awards including a 50 year pin from the Leakey Lions Club.