50
Current Weekly News for Leakey, Camp Wood, Sabinal, Utopia and Surrounding Areas Vol. 6 No. 46
INSIDE
NO PAPER NEXT WEEK
NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS: MONDAY NOVEMBER 28TH, 2016 AT 6:30 PM AT SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER, LEAKEY WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 30TH 6:30 PM AT THE CAMP WOOD SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER IN CAMPWOOD
www.hillcountryherald.net
Tri-Canyon’s Only Weekly Newspaper!
November 16, 2016
editor@hillcountryherald.net
LEAKEY WASTEWATER PROJECT UPDATE Is This Project A Pipe Dream?? In 2004, a “Real County Comprehensive Planning Study” identified the need for wastewater improvements in the Leakey area. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) awarded a wastewater facility planning grant to the Nueces River Authority (NRA) to identify and propose wastewater improvements in 2008. The project divided into two phases. Phase 1 is the area west of the Frio River and Phase 2 is the east of the Frio River. In October of 2011, the TWDB approved a $9.961 Million Dollar loan forgiveness and a $1.082 Million Dollar grant from Economically Distressed Areas Program. On April 10, 2012 the TWDB signed an agreement with the NRA to fund the project. On December 14, 2015 an additional $16.547 Million Dollar grant was approved for construction funding by the TWDB. So that’s the money side of the project. Now let’s talk about the
By Julie Becker
timeline. On April 11, 2014 I attended a Leakey Regional Wastewater Project Update. This is the projected timeline I was given:
Spring/Summer 2014 – Environmental Determination Spring/Summer 2014 – Permit Determination June 2014 – Phase I Collection System Design – October 2014 – WWTP (Plant) and Phase 2 90% Design December 2014 – Final Design Approval April 2015 – Bidding July 2015 – Begin Construction November 2016 – Complete Construction.
YEAH! It’s November 2016 We’re Done, Not even close!! As evidenced by the condition of our town you can see this schedule is obsolete. So let’s move to the October 2016 report from the engineering firm. We now use seasons as time markers, Complete TxDOT Subset - November 2016
Begin Package A Construction - Fall of 2016 Begin Package B Construction - Spring 2017 Complete WWTP Construction - Summer 2017 Complete Package A - Fall of 2017 Complete Package B - Spring of 2018 Complete Hook-ups, Ponds, and Irrigation System, - Winter of 2017/2018 Project Close out - SPRING OF 2018!!! I
have a document in hand from one of the first meetings that states Project Close out JANUARY 2015!! Now I know that projects of this size run into issues and delays, but here are some of the questions and comments from the community: “Why do we see the workers digging up the same spot three times? Why did the contractor not use a rock saw instead of the very loud very disturbing AND time consuming jack hammer? Why did they have to tear up the road so much? When are
they going to be done?” So I sent an email to Con Mims, Executive Director of the NRA authority asking this question “ I attended the 2025 meeting for real county last night and there were several citizens that were very disgruntled regarding the timeframe on the sewer project. I will be doing an article this week please send me a quote or statement as to “Why it is taking so long?.” His initial response began with “There have been no delays that will, significantly, affect the current timetable for completing the wastewater treatment and collection system.” I declined to print that response, so he consequently responded with this: “The project is behind schedule compared to the original timeframe, which has been adjusted to reflect changing conditions. continued page 5
THE LEAKEY ISD VETERANS DAY RECOGNITION by Julie Becker and Elaine Padgett Carnegie
............................ Page 8
THANKSGIVING… WHAT IT MEANS ............................. Page 9
“Opening Day; A Hunting Parody”
............................ Page 7
............................ Page 13
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: 79° Low: 55°
On Veterans Day the Leakey ISD recognized our Communities Veterans. It was a wonderful, well presented and heart warming program! Presentation of the Colors to the Battle Hymn of the Republic followed by the National Anthem performed by the Leakey Eagle Band. The Pledge of Allegiance to both America and Texas was led by Aubree Glass, Larry Dugat and Sydney Jones, followed by the Prayer by Quinten Pigg. A warm welcome was presented by Rylan Springer followed by a performance by the K-4th Elementary Choir of America the Beautiful and God Bless Amer-
ica! If you were not able to attend, see the slideshow on our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/ hillcountryheraldvisitorsguide/. A presentation of the Flags was done with an explanation of the meaning of each flag. The Army was presented by Hanna Jones and held by Coleman Kerr, the Air Force was presented by Jolee Cave and held by Sydney Jones while the POW Flag was presented by Larry Dugat and held by Maycee Webb. The Marines was presented by Jordan Jensen and held by Trey Bates and the Navy presentation was done by Ashton Bobo and held by Bryce Thompson while the Navy
followed up with a presentation by Quinten Pigg, held by Heidi Dugat. The Leakey ISD Fifth and Sixth grade choir performed the Military Anthems before the emotional roll call of our Community Veterans. The deceased were presented by family. The roll was called by Sofia Rodriguez and Jake Gray. Hudson Springer introduced the Guest Speaker, Jeff Bobo who spoke of camaraderie of soldiers and how that never disappeared. Taps was then performed by Casey Cowan and the benediction was led by Larry Dugat before the Colors were Retired.
Real County Commissioners Receive Recognition from Veterans Land Board by Julie Becker
Real County Commissioners held their monthly meeting Monday November 16, 2016, at 9 a.m. at the Real County Courthouse. Following an opening prayer, Commissioners and guests paid respect to both the U.S. and Texas flags with pledges. Real County was given a plaque of Recognition for having the 4th highest number of per capita loans by county from the Texas Veterans’ Land Board. Veteran’s Service Officer J.D. Martinez, along with Real County Judge Garry Merritt and the Commissioners present accepted the award. Ken Wallingford from the Veterans Land Board made the presentation.
Another presentation was made by Rudy Gonzalez, representing the H.E.B. Foundation, to the Emergency Operations Center. Again, J.D. Martinez, the Emergency Management Coordinator for Real County, accepted the donation. “The $5000 donation will go toward purchasing a new backup generator for the Emergency Management Center in Real County” said Martinez. Pictured LtoR: Real County Veteran’s Service Officer J.D. Martinez, Ken Wallingford, Real County Judge Garry Merritt and Commissioners Joe Connell, Manuel Rubio and Bryan Shackelford. continued page 5
NEW PROGRAM TO HELP BRING HEROES HOME Fidelity Partners donates 20 acres of land to off road mobility to access over 20 acres of beautiful cal care to home. During their stay at Camp Transition help our Nations Heroes overcome mental and wooded grounds with over 1⁄2 a mile of its spectacular our Vets share quality time with their family, healthcare spring fed river frontage. “Currently, 1 out of every 3 providers and others, promoting healing from PTSD. physical wounds. San Antonio, TX, November 7, 2016 - Mission Transition is a new, cutting edge Veteran support initiative of the TransCharity Foundation, will provide our heroes the ability to reconnect with themselves and their families, at its “Camp Transition”, a tranquil and safe environment, in the Texas Hill Country, outside of Leakey, TX. Camp Transition offers ADA accessible trails, cabins and pavilion, as well as retrofitted ATVs for
vets in Texas is suffering from PTSD. This rising need is what compelled us to partner with military personnel, to develop a one of a kind program, which we hope will save many lives.” Natalie de Pena, Sr. VP, Fidelity Partners Many of our Vets come home with physical and or emotional wounds. Mission Transition through the recommendation and close guidance of their doctors offers our nations heroes a transition point from clini-
Mission Transition…Bringing Heroes Home. “We are very excited about this program, because no one to date had given our heroes a transition point. We are confident this program will make a great impact in the lives of our heroes.” Leo Silva, CMSgt, USAF (Ret.) If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Ms. Karina Villa at 210-774-1270 or email at Karina.villa@npengagement.com.