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Tri-Canyon’s Only Weekly Newspaper!
Current Weekly News for Leakey, Camp Wood, Sabinal, Utopia and Surrounding Areas Vol. 7 No. 42
INSIDE LEAKEY ISD TO MOVE TO 6 MAN FOOTBALL ............................ Page 4
REAL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WANTED PERSONS AND FUGITIVES
www.hillcountryherald.net
October 18, 2017
editor@hillcountryherald.net
PROGRESS, WHAT PROGRESS? “The water line construction and paving will not affect the Wasterwater project progress says Leakey Mayor” by Julie Becker
When questioned at last weeks Leakey City Council meeting, Mayor Harry Schneemann was insistent that the wastewater project construction would not be affected by Hoover Construction being contracted to put the new water line in at 7th street or by the paving project of the city streets. However, this week when approached to be directed to the location of the workers on the Wastewater project, Utility Director Michael Collard said he did not know the location of the workers and I would have to speak
to the Hoover Construction supervisor “Johnny.” He proved to be very elusive, but when finally located he replied to the question of “Where are the wastewater project workers?” by stating “Right here paving the streets.” On a project that was given the Notice to Proceed on APRIL 16, 2012 it would seem that THIS project would have priority!! When questioned again Mayor Schneemann stated “I went on the information I was given.” I requested financial information from Naisamith Engineering but prior to
receiving it, I received the requested information from the Texas Water Development Board. I also requested a status of funds distributed and the response was “The Texas Water Development Board has committed $30.2 million in financial assistance to the Nueces River Authority, City of Leakey project. So far, the TWDB has disbursed $15.1 million. They have used the disbursed funds to pay for land and easements, four construction contracts to-date, engineering costs, and closing costs. The remaining $15.1 million is
budgeted primarily for construction said Kimberly Friesen Leggett, Media Relations Specialist.” Upon review of the submitted financial information, what stood out the most was the Utility Director’s salary which averages $10,000 per month, as you can see in the chart below. Associated Construction Partners is the contractor for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Citizens have asked “Are we really getting our money’s worth?” continued page 11
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Geraldo Rivera Defends Nueces Canyon Band Headed to State Trump and Puerto Rico ............................ Page 11
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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: 78° Low: 53°
By Band Director Ted Buhrts
The Nueces Canyon “Pride of Pantherland” Marching Band competed at the UIL Region 11 Marching Band contest on Saturday October 14, 2017. The band earned a Superior rating and will advance to represent the school and community at the State Marching Band contest on November 6, to be held at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Ted Buhrts, the Nueces Canyon Band Director said “The explosion of cheer coming from the band students, who were seated on the visitor’s side of the stadium, brought a huge smile to my face. I am so very proud of the students.” Exact performance times will be set once all of the region contests across the state have been completed. We do know that the state contest is run in a Prelims/Finals format with prelims beginning at 8:00am and finals beginning at 1: 30pm. A part of our success is due to the fantastic support we get from Superintendent Kristi Powers and Principal Luci Harmon. The director and students would also like to thank Brianna Taylor, Crystal Martin, Nancy Luce, Norma Hidalgo, Chris Whipkey, Carroll Vernor, Shelli Carnes, and Brianna Taylor for making contest day run so smoothly. Extensive information for spectators, including ticket information, can be found on the UIL website. Type in: www.uiltexas.org/music. Again, thank you to the school board, administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, and community for all of the support you have given the band program. It’s a great day to be a Panther!
Water News and River Flows
by: Joel Pigg, General Manager, RECRD
Flows at all crossings on the Frio River were taken on October 13, 2017 and they all showed an increase in flow since the last measurment. Fulgham’s Crossing just south of the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment had a flow of 10,670 gpm (gallons per minute) last month and now has a flow of 22,453 gpm; this is a 2X increase in flow. The rainfall events we had the last week of September really helped the flows at this crossing. The Leakey Springs crossing had a flow of 3,633 gpm last measurement, and a flow of 4,660 gpm this reading; about a 22% increase in flow since the last measurement. This crossing has remained very constant since last summer with only slight variations from one measurement to the next; but has shown a downward trend over the last several measurements. This measurement gets the crossing
closer to the normal flow. The Mill Creek Crossing showed a slight increase in flow this measurement of about 2%; there are culverts on the south end of this crossing that continue to have no flow. This crossing has a flow of 8,415 gpm this measurement which is up from the last measurement of 8,238 gpm last month. On the west prong of the Frio River, conditions are very similar with all flows showing an increase since the last measurement. The Rancho Real crossing had a flow of 5,938 gpm last month compared to a flow of 6,619 gpm this measurement increasing the flow by 10%. The Kent Creek crossing showed an approximately 33% increase in flow since the last measurement; to a flow of 1,641 gpm this month up from a flow of 1,097 gpm last measurement. continued page 13