Wednesday's Internet Edition, September 08, 2010.
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| The Texas Forest Service’s rapid fire response team, temporarily stationed here, posed for this photograph in front of two of the units fire engines. They are ready, in case fires break out in this West Texas region, to respond at a moments notice. |
- Yesterday morning I opened my e-mail, as is my custom each morning when I arrive at work. The first e-mail message I had was from the National Weather Service office in Midland.
“There is critical fire danger in West Texas and in particular for Culberson County” said the message.
Van Horn has only recorded some .30 inches of precipitation since January 1st of this year so it does not take a rocket scientist to see why the fire danger has reached “critical” levels in the county.
The Texas Forest Service also knows this and has prepared for this far West Texas fire danger. The Texas Forest Service has stationed a team of some 19 folks, from around the country, here to assist the local Volunteer Fire Department.
Ricky Holbrook is the Regional Fire Coordinator with the team which is here for a two week period. Another team will come in to town after this team’s time is up.
Holbrook holds a daily briefing for his team each day at 9:30 a.m. so that they will be prepared for any eventuality.
The team has two fire engine units, one from California, and three dozers which will be used to cut fire lines into fires and around them.
Holbrook told the Advocate that “We’re expecting the situation here to really pick up as you approach the thunderstorm season. With things as dry as they are, you’ll ignite fast and spread fast.”
He went on to note, “That’s when it will overwhelm your volunteer fire department and that’s when we kick into gear to help.”
Holbrook concluded by saying, “We hope that we’re not needed but if we are, that’s what we’re here for. We’re glad to be here!”
So, if you see some new faces in town wearing fire t-shirts, let them know how much you appreciate their being here for us. And, remember that there is a “No Burning” ban in effect in the county until the fire danger subsides.
Golf course talk is tops at council meeting
Van Horn City Council members met Tuesday evening and devoted most of the session to golf course issues.
Mayor Ben Flanagan noted that the city had received a letter from Pilot Corporation along with a revised map detailing the path that they were going to undertake as it had been agreed to with the mayor.
According to Mayor Flanagan, the proposed work is slated to begin in the very near future.
Two local citizens had asked to speak to council about some concerns they have and they were given the floor.
Jose Aguilar addressed council members first saying, “There is a recurring problem at the golf course involving one specific individual.” Aguilar went on to note that folks simply will not play if this particular individual is playing at the course. And, Aguilar concluded, “Can he be banned from the golf course? The individual he was speaking about is CuCo Corrales.
Then David Scott took his turn to address the council. Scott’s complaint was against the same individual and he noted that the individual uses foul language in front of men, women and children and he definitely is keeping folks from playing at our golf course. Scott asked, “Can he be given a stern warning about his language and conduct at the course?
Council members thanks the two for their comments and proceeded with the rest of their meeting agenda which included hearing Golf Association president Walter Syffert report on the tournament held at the course this past weekend.
Syffert reported that Saturday was a disaster, largely on account of the same person mentioned above. The event only attracted 8 teams, however there were a couple of out of town players who witnessed Van Horn golf.
Syffert reported that the event lost money due to the low number of teams entered.
After Syffert gave the report, councilman Mingo Corrales asked him if CuCo had called him on Friday to see if the tee times could be changed. Syffert responded by saying he called but I could not change the tee times since they were advertised at 9:30 a.m.
After this discussion, council members took several other actions regarding the golf course. They included:
* Approved hiring a golf consulting firm, Paradigm Consultants, to come in and do a feasibility study and come to council with a recommended improvement plan for the golf course. This action was requested by councilwoman Gilda Morales. The cost of this study and improvement plan is estimated at $7,500.
* Council members approved an additional $3,600 from motel tax funds for the golf course to cover losses incurred in this past weekend’s tournament.
* And, with respect to this weekend’s Sierra Blanca FFA Golf Tournament, council did agree to waive the green fees but made it clear that cart rental would be on a first come, first served basis and that the course should accept tee times beginning at 8 a.m. to insure that locals will be able to play the course as well.
With regard to other items on the meeting agenda, council members took the following actions:
* Learned that the transportation bus has an air conditioning problem now and that the bus will be going to El Paso this week to be fixed.
* Council members voted unanimously to waive the bulk water fees charged to the local 4-H Club for bulk water usage at the Rodeo Arena. This action extends to future bulk water usage as well.
* Council members voted to open a credit card clearing account to handle all credit card transactions for the city. The action was necessitated by the fact that credit card activity now exceeds $10,000 a month.
* Council members also voted to remove Rebecca Brewster from the bank account signatories and replaced her with Fran Malafronte.
* Council members approved two mailing required by the Texas Railroad Commission about gas system safety. The mailing will be made in June and again in November. At the same time, council approved of the cost of these mailing.
* Council accepted a quote from Jesse’s Plumbing to perform some needed repairs at the City Swimming Pool. The repairs will be made before the planned Memorial Day opening of the pool. Cost of the work was $2,680.
* Mayor Flanagan reported that a grant to the city for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rural West Texas had been approved.
* Mayor Flanagan also reported that the Rio Grande Council of Governments had applied for a $20,000 grant on behave of the city to get a Mobile Veterinarian Clinic to come here monthly.
* And, council members went behind closed doors for an executive session.