Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.
|
| The Van Horn Eagles with their Area Championship trophy. Picture taken following their 56 to 50 victory over Farwell in Odessa last Friday night. The Eagles played Plains in the Regional game last night at Odessa College. |
- The Van Horn Eagles basketball team headed towards Odessa last Friday evening to battle the Farwell Steers in an Area basketball game and the right to advance to the Regional playoffs.
The Eagles were the home team and the Steers were the visitors.
The game started of fast paced and never let up. The lead changed hands several times in the first half and with the Eagles down by three right before the half, Brandon Onate tossed one up from three point range and it dropped to tie the game up once again. When the Eagles went to the half time locker room, they were down by just 2 points.
The second half of play saw the same level of intensity, again with the lead changing back and forth.
It appeared that Eagle head coach Armando Ortega had his hands full attempting to get his charges to slow the pace because the Steers were unrelenting
As the game drew down, it became apparent that the game was going to hinge on who got the ball last. But with time running out, the Eagles drew ahead forcing the Farwell Steers to commit fouls in the hopes that the Eagles would miss the free throws.
Fortunately for the Eagles, almost every time, it was Rutesh Bhakta that got fouled and he was deadly from the free throw line.
In the end, Van Horn pulled ahead and won the hard fought game by a score of 56 to 50 making Van Horn the Area champions.
The Eagles played Plains last night at Odessa College in the regional game.
Council amends local development criteria
Van Horn Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jeff McCoy appeared before the Van Horn City Council Tuesday evening and asked them to approve changes to the zoning and commercial development ordinances.
McCoy explained to council that the Van Horn EDC board of directors was recommending that these two ordinances be amended to reflect an increase in building height to 70’ so that motels could build three story units here. Additionally, they were recommending that the parking space provisions be altered to reflect 1.1 spaces per unit instead of the current 1.5 spaces.
McCoy also reported that making these changes will help Van Horn in the future to attract more motel type businesses
Council members, after hearing the report, approved amending both ordinances unanimously.
Roland Gomez, owner of local technology service firm Tech-Mojo, appeared before council to ask them to consider utilizing his firm for all the city’s technology and computer service and repair needs as well as to maintain the city’s web site.
Gomez reported that his firm would perform the services for $21,927 per year. Council members, citing the desire to “keep the money here in Van Horn,” unanimously approved entering into a contract with Tech-Mojo immediately.
Mayor Ben Flanagan reported that he had met with Hudspeth County Water Control and Improvement District #1 on Monday. That is the unit with which the town has an agreement to provide water to Sierra Blanca under a 1979 contract.
Mayor Flanagan reported that he told them that Van Horn taxpayers have been subsidizing their water for years and that it is not fair to Van Horn taxpayers for this situation to continue.
Mayor Flanagan further reported that their full board is expected to meet within several days and he would appear at that meeting to further explain the problems and the need to redo the 1979 contract document.
Council members told Flanagan to not firm up an interlocal animal control agreement with Sierra Blanca until this water issue can also be resolved.
With regard to other agenda items considered by council during the Tuesday evening session, the following actions were taken:
* Council went behind closed doors for an executive session. Following the session, no action was taken.
* Council accepted the lone fuel bid received from C & L Kas Card.
* Council members approved a request from Sondra McCoy, of Van Horn High School, for tables to use in an upcoming College Career Day at the High School.
* Council members approved of a Sierra Blanca I.S.D. Golf Tournament slated for this weekend at Mountain View Golf Course to benefit student athletes of SBISD. Council members also waived the green fees for the event.
* Council heard Jose Aguilar express his concerns about golf course operations. They told him that at the March 17th council meeting, the Golf Course Board would take over and be in charge of all scheduling, policies, fees, etc.
* And, while on the subject of the golf course, council voted unanimously that city employees at the golf course could not play golf while on city time. If they want to play golf, they are to go off the time clock.
* Mayor Flanagan reported that he was continuing to look for dealers who might be able to assist the city with the nagging garbage truck problems.
* After council called a budget work session for March 5th, Mayor Flanagan reported that the first installment on the land purchase by Huntington Group had been received. The amount was $24,608.
* Before adjourning, council again went behind closed doors for yet another executive session.