Friday's Internet Edition, July 04, 2008.
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| Art Show opens.... Brenda Hinojos, Event Coordinator at Van Horn’s Convention Center, stands among the numerous art exhibits on display at this year’s 10th Annual Building Bridges Art Show which opened yesterday. The Art Show will remain open through tomorrow evening. Come out and view the many entries of local artisans. |
- Sheriff Oscar Carrillo told Culberson County Commissioners during their meeting Monday, that his jail facility is pretty old and has been grant variances in past jail inspections.
However, Sheriff Carrillo added, the new Texas Commission on Jail Standards inspectors have inspected some 38 jails thus far this year and they have failed 13 of them.
Sheriff Carrillo further added that they have failed them for things which exist in our jail and for which we have been granted variances in the past.
Carrillo noted that his jail is due to be inspected by the latter part of May.
Commissioners had previously authorized that work be done to improve things in the jail and will attempt to get more things done before the inspection.
At the same time, commissioners approved an Automated Victim Notification Service, noting that shortly, everything to do with jails and processing of inmates will be automated. These will include bookings, finger printing, and reporting.
And, Sheriff Carrillo also reported that he only received one bid for the police vehicles he had advertised for. The bid was from Dick Poe Dodge in El Paso. Carrillo noted that the two vehicles to be purchased will be obtained from Operation Linebacker funding.
Commissioners also voted to appropriate $4,000 each to purchase two mobile homes from FEMA. The trailers will be used in the Emergency Management area to house emergency items and Hazmat stuff.
FEMA is selling the mobile homes, excess from Hurricane Katrina, to governmental entities for $100 a foot and then the governmental entities must allocate funds to go pick them up and bring them back. Russ Wyatt suggested that the county pick theirs up in Hope, Arkansas.
Funds to pay for the trailers will come from the capital projects budget line item. The sheriff’s department will also purchase one of these trailers and will pay for it out of his budget.
While Russ Wyatt, Emergency Management coordinator had the floor, he reported that the county had received a $65,000 grant and that the money would be used to complete the county-wide communication system. He reported that the funds had been taken from the county’s grant last year and the government was giving it back now.
Commissioners accepted the grant with Judge Molinar to sign for the court.
With regard to other items considered by the court during Monday’s meeting, the following actions were taken:
* Commissioners opted to reject all bids received for the Youth Center project and to re-advertise for bids with some modification to the specifications.
* Commissioners also learned that the Border Colonia street paving project was about ready to rebid.
* Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 Oscar Espinosa came before commissioners to ask several things. First, he asked to have an internet line provided by Windstream be installed in his office. Next, he asked that money be moved from his software support line item to capital outlay so that he could purchase some new office furniture. And thirdly, he asked for clarification on how technology funding was to be spent.
Commissioners approved the installation of the internet from Windstream. They also approved moving the money from computer support to capital outlay in the amount of $1,725 +/-. And lastly, they determined that technology funds were to be allocated by the commissioners court. Any requests for these funds must come to the court before they can be allocated.
* Commissioners approved letting Manny Jimeniz of the firm of Russ Ross talk to county employees about contributing to their 457 Retirement fund. The court authorized the County Judge to execute the plan document and their meeting with Treasurer Susie Hinojos to set up payroll deductions.
* Commissioners heard County Auditor Maxine Chance report that she needs an inventory of items from the sheriff which were purchased with Operation Linebacker funds. Sheriff Carrillo said he would get the info to Chance as soon as he had time.
* Following a behind the closed door session, commissioners said they had talked personnel matters and no action would be taken.
* After naming Friday, May 4th as Government Day at the Courthouse, commissioners approved budget amendments as submitted by the County Judge, Commissioners and the County Auditor.
* Before adjourning the session, commissioners approved the submitted monthly reports, talked briefly about county projects and approved monthly bills and payroll amounting to $223,466.18. Of that sum, $106,941.60 was for payroll and related expense while $107,524.58 was for monthly bills.
TAKS testing in fill swing next week
According to Superintendent Anne Pemberton, the district campuses will be in full TAKS test mode next week as the bulk of the TAKS testing for this school year are slated to be held next week.
Students in grade 3 through 10 will be testing all next week in mathematics, reading, science, social studies and exit level tests.
Pemberton reminded parents to make sure their children get plenty of rest and eat a good breakfast before taking the tests.
Test results are expected to be back to the district sometime during the week of May 4th through May 11th.
Local man nabbed in Odessa drug raid March 30th
By Hal Combs, KOSA News, Odessa
Odessa, Tx -Local law enforcement agencies teamed up to seize thousands of dollars worth of narcotics from an Odessa motel last Friday afternoon, March 30th.
Ector County special investigators, assisted by DPS narcotics officers were able to obtain a consent to search a room at a motel on east Highway 80.
The investigation turned up more than 95 grams of heroin, 67 grams of cocaine and more than $1,000 dollars in cash.
54-year-old Thomas Mendoza, of Van Horn, was arrested on charges of possession of both heroin and cocaine totaling more the $27,000 dollars.
Federal drug charges are still pending in the case.
Culberson County Sheriff Oscar Carrillo reported that “this is good news for folks in Van Horn since he has been peddling drugs here for a long time.”