Sunday's Internet Edition, July 20, 2008.
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| Judge Manuel Molinar (L) proudly accepts the gavel, which signifies his office, from State Representative Pete Gallego (R) Tuesday afternoon. |
- State Representative Pete Gallego, of Alpine, stopped in Van Horn Tuesday afternoon and heard from a group of local leaders and citizens about their concerns.
Gallego had planned to be here to make a formal gavel presentation to County Judge Manuel Molinar and that turned into over an hour of hearing the concerns of locals.
Attending the impromptu session were County Judge Molinar, City Mayor Okey Lucas, City Councilman Matt Molinar, Van Horn Economic Development Executive Director Jeff McCoy, Texas Mountain Trail Regional Coordinator Beth Nobles, AdventGx President Jose Quintana, City Utilities Superintendent Raquel Mendez, City staffer Laura Barragan, County Clerk Linda McDonald, and Van Horn Advocate owner Larry Simpson.
The group voiced a lot of concerns about various Texas Department of Transportation projects which the town wants and needs and for which they have done little.
The group also asked Gallego for his help in obtaining funding for the proposed Van Horn Economic Development Corporation’s apartment complex, citing some stringent lender requirements.
The group told Gallego that these things are needed in Van Horn to promote rural economic development and to meet the anticipated growth from the U.S Border Patrol and Blue Origin.
As the meeting was breaking up, Gallego told those gathered that he would schedule a meeting here in Van Horn with the TxDOT District Engineer, Chuck Berry, so that leaders and citizens can voice their concerns directly to him.
The town meeting event will be scheduled for sometime in September, probably at the Convention Center and a meal could well be provided.
Prior to departing, Gallego expressed a desire to see some of the concepts being talked about and was given a tour of Van Horn’s Project 7 Room, along with County Judge Molinar, Mayor Okey Lucas, and others.
The consensus of those at the meeting was that it was good to meet Gallego face to face and that something positive will result for the town down the road.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
You may have noticed a new price per copy we are now charging for the Advocate. It has been many, many years (we didn’t take time to look it up) since we raised the price per copy. Just the cost for gas getting the paper to the printer and back has gone up so much. Even though we are sending it online, we still have to pay the same price to the person who drives over to pick up the printed copies. Printing costs have gone up many times since we have been charging 50 cents per copy. Thanks for understanding.
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50 YEARS AGO.....taken from the July 1957 issues of the Advocate:
Tourists this summer are enjoying the new swimming pool at the Western Lodge, owned by Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Brune and Mr. and Mrs. Evans Burnet. They have also completed the pool area with a flagstone covered patio.
Memorial services were held for 1st Lt. James Morriss, age 24, a jet pilot in the US Marines. He died as a result of a jet crash somewhere in the Pacific.
Van Horn Lions Club lost a very interesting ball game with Grand Falls. They had it won 8 to 4 and on the last inning blew up and allowed 6 runs on errors. Monico Benavidez did a magnificent job on the mound. Tony Lujan at first base got 3 for 4, 1 homer, 2 base hits and 1 single.
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Larry pointed out something to me in relation to the articles on our WWII Vets from last week and this week. I guess I don’t know my history on that war enough to have caught it but he certainly does. Who would have imagined that in 1944-45 there were 2 men who were engaged in the battle in and over Europe who would both end up living their lives out in Van Horn. While T.C. Ortega was fighting his way across Europe with Gen. Patton’s 5th Infantry Division on the ground, Shearrell Vincent was flying bombers just ahead of them, attacking targets deep in Germany.
They were among America’s finest and bravest, fighting a determined brutal enemy. And they were in their teens and early twenties. It’s no wonder they are now being called ‘America’s Greatest Generation.’ We owe such a debt of gratitude to them, and to everyone since who is willing to lay their life on the line, if necessary, for the United States and the freedoms we enjoy!
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Thought for the Week.......
Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts, and just by doing just acts. - - - Aristotle
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
July 19th - Aliviane Art Classes at 10 a.m & 1 p.m. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the firehouse.
July 20th - Nothing scheduled at press time.
July 21st - Nothing scheduled at press time.
July 22nd - Attend the church of your choice.
July 23rd - Members of the Van Horn Lions Club are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the Sands Restaurant.
July 24th - Aliviane Art Classes at 10 a.m & 1 p.m. Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are scheduled to meet today at noon at Chuy’s.
July 25th - Nothing scheduled at press time.