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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. 37
INSIDE
www.hillcountryherald.net
HORSE CLUB HOME AFTER 42 YEARS
REAL COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT ............................ Page 4
HURRICANE
IRMA ............................ Page 9
September 13, 2017
editor@hillcountryherald.net
Pictured LtoR: Russell Glass, President of the Frio Canyon Chamber of Commerce, Vincent Becker, President of the Real County Junior Horse Club, Don Gass, Director of the Real County Junior Horse Club, Sandy Lynam, First State Bank of Uvalde Vice President Frio CanyonLeakey, Chante Burns, Treasurer of the Real County Junior Horse Club, Dick G. Geries First State Bank of Uvalde Chairman of the Board & CEO and William I. Dillard First State Bank of Uvalde Senior Vice President
by Julie Becker
After 42 years of endless hours of work at a location that they did not actually own, the Real County Junior Horse Club purchased the Leakey Arena. For years the arena was owned by individuals that allowed the club to construct the necessary facilities to hold annual rodeos and playdays, but the club never owned the property. That is until last week! With help of the Frio Canyon Chamber of Commerce who purchased the arena three years ago and agreed to sell to the horse club and the First State Bank of Uvalde who financed the purchase, the club became the proud owners of 42 years of blood, sweat and tears that held the club together. “We want to thank the Frio Canyon Chamber of Commerce and the First State bank for having faith in this organization,” said RCJHC President Vincent Becker. The first organizational meeting of the horse club was in 1972. Plans were made for future youth activities and possible locations. The first play-day activities were held in 1974.
2019.....MAYBE Leakey Sewer System Update LONE STAR NEWS ............................ Page 13 REAL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WANTED PERSONS AND FUGITIVES
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Each week I receive several requests, both written and verbal, for updates on the Leakey Sewer project. Many of you know but some don’t, this project received funding on October 21, 2011. The project was described as “A project to provide first-time wastewater collection and treatment service to the City of Leakey and surrounding communities with a determined project boundary. The wastewater treatment plant will be disposed of via land application on a 194-acre tract of land purchased by the (NRA) Nueces River Authority.” The NRA has worked with the Texas Department of Transportation to combine the work on the new roads in the City of Leakey with the new sewer lines. The TxDOT Subset as described in the monthly update from the engineering firm, Naismith/Hanson states the work with TxDOT began on November 9, 2015 and will be completed on September 15, 2017, but an extension may be needed if the contract can not be closed out by then. (What a surprise.) The Wastewater treatment plant is under way with construction of the primary treatment structure and chlorine contact tank and installation of underground electrical ductwork progressing.
The report lists the completion date of construction on the treatment plant as December 23, 2017. (I’m taking 5to1 odds on this) Work continues on the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment lift station as well as the continued work on the sewer lines. A change order was executed in August 2017, which, among other things, widened the casing crossing at Patterson Creek from 50 feet to 100 feet. After the force main is fully constructed, line work efforts will begin moving north along FM 1120 from Alto Frio towards the City of Leakey. The change order also added 60 days to the construction time. (Again what a surprise) This is listed as Package A of the collection system (the lines) and includes connections from Alto Frio, along 1120 into parts of Leakey south of RR 337 and neighborhoods west of US 83. Package B of the collection lines includes the northeastern portion of the Leakey area, including Fisher Lane, Sherman Lane, the Twin Forks subdivision and the Frio River Ranches subdivision and it’s completion date is listed as just 2018. The storage ponds construction has not begun and is listed as 2018. Residential Wasterwater Hookup project is listed as
To Be Determined. Irrigation System, Phase 2 Residential Hookups and Waster Water Treatment Plant Phase 2 is listed completion 2018-2019. So here is the new project schedule: Complete TxDOT Subset September 2017 Begin Package A Construction March 2017 Begin Package B Construction Fall 2017 Complete WWTP Construction Spring 2018 Begin Phase 1 Hook-Ups Spring 2018 Complete Package A Summer 2018 Complete Package B Fall 2018 Complete Hook-Ups, Ponds, and Irrigation System 2018 - 2019 Project Closeout 2018 - 2019 And then there is the office building/ labratory. This portion of the project has sat untouched for over a year. Somewhere along the way the Utility Director/Project Manager got cross ways with the subcontractors and the building construction came to a halt. This is where I parted ways with the
The Real County Jr. Horse Club became an official organization “to further the participation of youth in activities on horseback, and related activities” in 1975. Over the last 42 years club members held bake sales, barbecues, and goat roping’s to raise money so that the concession, restrooms, grandstands and arena could be built. Since those first years, the Horse Club has continued to grow. Other officers and directors have followed in the footsteps of those first generous individuals who had the foresight to create such a wonderful organization for the youth of this area. Although the faces of the board, directors, and members have changed, the purpose of the organization is still the same. Now, I am going to take this opportunity to thank Real County Judge Garry Merritt for giving me the inspiration and determination to see the project through. The RCJHC also says Thank You to all of the local businesses who have contributed to help us achieve this goal.
by Julie Becker
Nueces River Authority Executive Director, Con Mims. When I suggested that tax payer dollars were being wasted he in replied “ But, most people consider a taxpayer funded project as being one for which taxes have been levied and collected, specifically for that project. To state otherwise, I believe, would be a stretch and misleading. This project has no discernible effect on the local taxpayer.” That was in October of 2016. So since according to Mr. Mims, this project has no discernible effect on y’all, why do I get so many questions and requests? Well I think it is because we are very effected by this project, this is our home, our community and our businesses. So here is Mr. Mims number (830) 278-6810 (830) 2782025 cmims@nueces-ra.org or you can contact the Texas Water Development Board 1700 North Congress Avenue P.O. Box 13231 Austin, Texas 78711-3231 ph: (512) 463-7847 fax: (512) 475-2053 I will continue to report on this project but I encourage you to call them and voice your strong concern for the completion of this project.
COMMUNITY HEALTH DEVELOPMENT, INC. ANNOUNCES FLU VACCINE NOW AVAILABLE AT ITS THREE MEDICAL HEALTH CENTERS
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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: 96° Low: 66°
UVALDE, TEXAS – Community Health Development, Inc. (CHDI) announces today that each of its three medical health centers – Our Health / Nuestro Centro de Salud in Uvalde, Rolling Hills Health in Leakey, and Canyon Health Center in Camp Wood – is now offering vaccinations designed to protect against strains of flu virus expected to be in circulation this fall and winter. You need not be a registered patient with CHDI to receive the vaccine and no doctor visit is required. CHDI is offering the flu vaccines for the following: * Adults 19 and over with or without insurance coverage can receive the flu vaccine at the low rate of $21.00. * Adults with Medicare Part B can receive the flu vaccine and the Health Center will bill your insurance. CHDI is expecting the following vaccine, and will inform once it is available: * Children ages six months to 18 years with no insurance qualify to receive the vaccine at no cost. * Children with Medicaid & CHIP can receive the flu vaccine and the Health Center will bill your insurance. * Children with private insurance that does not cover vaccines can receive the vaccine at no cost. The parents of children 18 years and younger with private insurance that cover vaccines should contact their Primary Healthcare Provider. The vaccine is not recommended for any child under six months of age. Community Health Development, Inc. has three
medical health center campuses now offering the flu vaccine: * Our Health/Nuestro Centro de Salud, (830) 2787105, is located at 200 S. Evans St., Uvalde. Hours of service are Monday and Wednesday from 8:00 am until 7:00 pm; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8: 00 am until 5:30 pm; and Saturday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. * Rolling Hills Health, (830) 232-6985, is located at Highway 83 and Oakhill Drive in Leakey. Hours of service are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm; and Wednesday from 10:00 am until 7: 00 pm. * Canyon Health Center, (830) 597-6424, is located at
700 Frio Street in Camp Wood. Hours of service are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm; and Wednesday from 10 am until 7:00 pm. The Texas Department of State Health Services is urging everyone 6 months and older to get flu vaccine as soon as it is available. However, getting a flu shot even later in the flu season may still protect you. It takes up to two weeks to build immunity following a flu shot. In some cases, people who get a flu shot can still get the flu, but they may get a much less severe form of the illness and, most important, they’ll have a decreased risk of flu-related complications — especially pneumonia, heart attack, stroke and death — to which older adults are especially vulnerable. Young children, pregnant women, individuals 65 and older and people with heart, lungs and kidney diseases and weakened immune system are at a higher risk of severe influenza. Vaccination is especially important for people at a higher risk of severe influenza and their close contacts, including healthcare personnel and close contacts of children younger than 6 months. According to The Texas Department of State Health Services, getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to prevent flu from spreading. Also, cover all coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer and stay home if sick.