Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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| Cowboy poets in Alpine.... Ray Fitzgerald, above left, was one of the featured presenters during the 22nd Cowboy Poets Gathering in Alpine last weekend. He was among a host of varied presenters at the Gathering. Ray is pictured with Bob Kinford, also of Van Horn, who was in attendance at the 2-day Gathering. (Photo by Patricia Golden) |
- City Council members met again Tuesday evening, and from the looks of the crowded council room, the “pot’s” still boiling at city hall.
Following an hour long executive session, council members again heard from Laura Reyes and Raquel Mendez. Reyes told council that she was speaking on behalf of city employees, and that “We want answers to our questions!”
Questions which were posed at the February 19th council meeting. She added, “We’d like our questions answered publicly” to which Mayor Okey Lucas responded saying, “We’ll meet privately with each employee on a one on one basis.”
She concluded her remarks be stating, “We want to know what councils intention is concerning us? Are there customer complaints, and if so who from? We want and deserve due process.” And, she added, “Why is it that the municipal director sets rules, but they do not apply to him?”
Council did not reply to anything she said, and then Raquel Mendez came before council to again reiterate her concerns form the February 18th meeting.
She stated, “Give us some idea of what you want from us? What, if anything, are we doing wrong?” She concluded her remarks by stating, Let us know where we’re heading.”
Again council members were silent, and Laura Reyes came before council again to request that a Public Comment item be placed on all future council agendas. She asked that it be included for the present meeting so those at the meeting could speak. That request was not granted.
Council will look at the matter for future sessions. As an aside, the school district has a citizens forum item on their agendas and they give anyone, who signs up to speak, 5 minutes to state their case.
With regard to other matters considered by council during Tuesday’s meeting, the following actions were taken:
* Council heard from Gary Fuentes, representing the NRCS, and Chanley Turner, representing the Highpoint Soil and Water Conservation District, regarding renewal of the Operation and Maintenance Plan for the watershed diversion dams.
Fuentes told council that the city was signed on the plan as a sponsoring organization and thus needed to have any input into plan changes.
Fuentes told council that the diversion dams were constructed back in 1984 and 1985 and protect the town and farming areas from massive flooding.
Fuentes told council that the dams will be inspected sometime in May and that the O & M Plan needed any changes submitted soon. He concluded by saying give our office a call, if you have any changes to make.
* Pete Torres came before council to ask them to purchase a piece of property from him at his cost. The request was made because his neighbor has constructed buildings inside his property, as well as a fence and these encroachments have made it virtually impossible for Torres to use his land for anything.
City Attorney Steve Mitchell advised that he look into the situation and meet with Torres to try to work out a resolution to the problem.
Torres told council that you are the governing entity and should have seen that he not build anything on my property.
* After approving payment of a bill to Van Horn Automotive, council agreed to meet next Tuesday, March 11th, to conduct a budget work session.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Did you realize that Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday night? That really slipped up on me this year. I forgot that last year they changed it from April to March. So, that means that when you go to bed Saturday night you should set your clocks UP one hour (Spring Forward). I much prefer gaining an extra hour in the fall. Actually I don’t see why they don’t just forget this switching back and forth. Maybe there’s a reason that I don’t know about or that I have forgotten about over the years.
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The United Blood Services out of El Paso comes to Van Horn a couple of times a year to hold a Blood Drive, with the help of the High School Student Council. Next Wednesday, March 12th, is one of those times and they will be at the High School Auditorium. If you have never given blood before I guarantee you that you will have a good feeling for doing it. So be a hero to someone who needs blood. It doesn’t take much time and it only hurts a tiny bit for just a second. See you there!
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The Primary Election is behind us now and my Congratulations to those who came out on top. Texas became a very important state in the Presidential Democratic race. It’s nice to be given so much attention I guess. And in that race it doesn’t look like it will be over anytime soon. So we have lots of political news to deal with for quite some time. But locally attention will now be on the May elections for School Board and City Council. There’s a lot at stake in both of those elections so try to become as informed as possible in deciding who will get your vote.
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The following was sent to us by a friend and I found it pretty amazing. It’s a little long but well worth the read - and be sure and share it with your children and grandchildren.
Take out a one dollar bill, and look at it. The one dollar bill you’re looking at first came off the pressed in 1957 in its present design. This so-called paper money is in fact a cotton and linen blend, with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it. It is overprinted with symbols and then it is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to give it that nice crisp look.
If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States Treasury Seal. On the top you will see the scales for a balanced budget. In the center you have a carpenter’s square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury. That’s all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar bill is something we should all know.
If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles. Both circles, together, comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.
If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the west or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin’s belief that one man couldn’t do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.
“In God We Trust” is on this currency. The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means “God has favored our undertaking.” The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means “a new order has begun.” At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776.
If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States. It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery, and is the centerpiece of most hero’s monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States, and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.
The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: First, he is not afraid of a storm; and he is smart enough to soar above it. Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England.
Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own. At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor.
We were coming together as one nation. In the Eagle’s beak you will read, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” meaning, “One From Many.” Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one.
Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants, peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.
They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. But think about this: 13 original colonies, 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 13 strips on our flag, 13 steps on the Pyramid, 13 letters in “Annuit Coeptis”, 13 letters in “E Pluribus Unum”, 13 stars above the Eagle, 13 bars on that shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows.
Finally, if you notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the righthand circle you will see that they are arranged as a Star of David. This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Hayyim Solomon, the wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he should like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army, Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself buy that he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result. Few people know that Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions died a pauper.
Your children don’t know this, and their history teachers don’t know this. Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
March 6th - The Van Horn Eagles baseball team is playing in and hosting the Oasis in the Desert Classic baseball tournament today beginning at 9:30 a.m. American Legion Post 508 is slated to meet this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Clark Hotel Historical Museum. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are scheduled to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse.
March 7th - Van Horn Eagles baseball team continues play in the Oasis in the Desert tournament today. The Van Horn The Van Horn Lady Eagles softball teams play Presidio in Presidio this evening beginning at 5 p.m.
March 8th - Van Horn Eagles baseball team continues playing in the Oasis in the Desert baseball tournament today. The Van Horn Eagle track teams run in the Crane Track Meet today in Crane.
March 9th - Daylights Savings Time begins at 2 p.m. Attend the church of your choice.
March 10th - Culberson County Commissioners Court is slated to meet this morning at 10 a.m. at the Courthouse. Members of the Van Horn Lions Club aer scheduled to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Sands Restaurant.
March 11th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are slated to meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant. The Van Horn Lady Eagles softball teams begin district play this evening in Ozona as they take on the Lady Lions. The Van Horn Eagle baseball teams play another district game in Big Lake today at 4 p.m. as they take on the Reagan County Owls.
March 12th - Nothing scheduled at press time.