Monday's Internet Edition, October 13, 2008.
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| Santa arrives in town.... The 3rd Place float in last Saturday’s Lighted Christmas Parade contained none other than the man himself....Santa Claus! |
- Van Horn held its annual Lighted Christmas Parade last Saturday evening. While brisk temperatures kept folks bundled up, the parade was a big success as it heralded in the Christmas season here.
The float contest produced 4 winners and the prize money was donated by the Van Horn Chamber of Commerce.
Float winners and the prize money were as follows: 1st Place - The Pack (They got $200 prize money); 2nd Place - Our Lady of Fatima (They got $150 prize money); 3rd Place - Lion’s Club (They got $100 prize money); and 4th Place - Van Horn State Bank (They got $50 prize money).
The Convention Center and Van Horn Main Street extend a special thanks to the parade judges this year. They are members of the U.S. Army National Guard, here in our community helping the U.S. Border Patrol. They were: Corporal Jade Harris, Specialist Benjamin Castillo, Specialist Arturo Castillo,Sergeant Felipe Garcia, and Specialist Andrew Hardiman.
Additionally, the parade organizers wished to thank the Sheriff’s Department and city utility Department staffers for their efforts at making the parade such a success.
And, Van Horn Main Street also sponsored a Show and Sell event that evening and that event went well also.
Following the parade, a whole host of folks took time to visit the Clark Hotel Historical Museum for cookies and hot chocolate as they escaped the brisk outside temperatures while waiting for the announcement of the parade results.
All in all, the evening was a wonderful welcome to the Christmas season in Van Horn and we hope you were there!
We give nod to Bonilla, but Rodriguez wins!
On Tuesday, voters went to the polls again, this time in very small numbers, to cast their ballots for the person to represent those of us in the 23rd Congressional District for the next two years.
On the ballot were incumbent Republican Henry Bonilla, who has represented us for nearly 12 years, and his Democratic opponent Ciro Rodriguez.
Locally the small number of voters who cast ballots gave the nod to Republican Henry Bonilla by a 78 to 68 margin.
However, a check of the Secretary of State’s website revealed that district-wide Democratic challenger Ciro Rodriguez had won the congressional seat held by Bonilla. Rodriguez carried the district by a 54.32% to 45.68% margin.
That makes Rodriguez our new U.S. Representative and he will assume the seat in Washington when Congress convenes again in January.
Trustees held special meeting last Friday
The Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District board of trustees held a special meeting last Friday, December 8th.
According to the agenda, two items were to be considered at the session.
First, trustees considered three change orders for the current construction project which is ongoing. The change orders were submitted by the projects architect and addressed roofing matters at the elementary and high school and ceiling tile matters at the high school.
Secondly was to consider going out for bids to perform rest room and concession stand construction at the district’s new baseball park.
After spending nearly two hours behind closed doors, trustees emerged and opted to approve the change orders as submitted by the architect and then they approved having the contractor perform the change orders.
And then trustees approved going out for bids to construct new rest rooms and a concession stand as the district’s new baseball field.
Following these actions, trustees adjourned the session.
Culberson County commissioners handle routine agenda in short order Monday
Culberson County commissioners’ court met Monday in a very short session. County Judge John Conoly presided over the final business session of his career.
Judge Conoly is retiring on December 31st after devoting some 32 years of his life as Culberson County’s County Judge. Conoly may preside over one or two other sessions before year end but for the most part, his job is about over.
Commissioners are expected to hold two more meetings this year. One to canvass the December 12, 2006 election results and one on December 29th to administer oaths of office to officials who will assume their duties on January 1, 2007.
In this final business session of the year, commissioners took no formal action, however, they did decide to look into various investment options for county funds.
Conoly reported that the county has nearly $2 million on deposit and the county is getting very little for it as it now stands. He suggested that commissioners explore investment avenues which could bring the county more money, staying within what Texas law says the county can do with its money.
Commissioners will look into the matter and report back.
Judge Conoly reported, also, that the commissioners need to hold a formal public hearing on the status of county roads within the county. “This should resolve the county road issue once and for all,” noted Conoly.
The hearing will pave the way for a final county road map to be prepared and filed as the official map. Commissioners voted to hold the public hearing on January 9, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.
Commissioners acted on other agenda items and the actions taken are shown below:
* Commissioners voted unanimously for the county to become a member of the West Texas Wind Consortium. This because of the wind generators in the north end of the county and the possibility of more down the road.
* Commissioners adopted a resolution which authorized new signatures on all matters pertaining to county grants and applications.
* They accepted into commissioners court minutes some continuing education hours as submitted by County Auditor Maxine Chance.
* Commissioners noted that state law now requires all elected officials and folks who sit on quasi-governmental boards and committees to have certified training on Texas’ Open Meetings and Open Records acts. Commissioners further noted that they have the training and would not need it again. They’ll provide the required certificates.
* Under county projects, commissioners voted to allow Judge Conoly to remain on the county’s insurance after his retirement under the provisions of the COBRA act. He’ll make monthly payments for his coverage.
* Following approval of the submitted monthly reports, commissioners next approved payment of bills and salaries amounting to $195,179.11. Of that sum, $102,311.53 was for payroll and related expense and $92,867.58 for monthly bills.