Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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| 'Red Hats' celebrate.... This ‘young-at-heart’ group of ladies gathered in all their ‘red hat gear’ last week to celebrate the birthdays of three of their own. The spry Hazel Walker (3rd from left) just turned 92, Liz Mitchell (4th from left) is a young 89, and the spring chicken is Pauline Harlow (seated in center), celebrating 72 years. Don’t tell any of these ladies that the fun slows down as the years roll by. Just drop by the Dairy Queen sometime when they are having one of their get-togethers and you’ll see why. |
- Van Horn Economic Development director Jeff McCoy told directors of the Van Horn Economic Development Corporation this week that progress is being made in Van Horn.
McCoy told the board that Van Horn’s new Hampton Inn is currently scheduled to open in early June and that he has spoken with tow other companies about property development here.
McCoy said that it has been nearly nine years since Van Horn has had a new property constructed and we may be losing market share as a result. Fort Stockton, for example, has built five new name brand properties in that same period.
Additionally, McCoy reported that work is expected to commence within a couple of weeks on the completion of the Project 7 Room, adjacent to the Clark Hotel Historical Museum.
Through the cooperative efforts of several entities, the funding to complete the Project 7 Room, renovate the front doors and windows of the Clark Hotel and to complete the Museum’s front landscaping has been made available.
Van Horn Main Street has pledged $10,000 for the Museum renovation project, the Van Horn Economic Development Corporation has pledged $5,000 to complete the Project 7 Room, and Van Horn Main Street has also pledged another $2,500 for Museum facade improvements. The Clark Hotel Museum has recently received a grant from the Texas Historical Foundation for $4,000 to replace the Museums doors. And, the Van Horn Rotary Club has pledged some money for the landscaping project as well.
Overall, the entire project will have over $21,500 to improve this vital area in our community.
McCoy also told board members that he had met with State Representative Pete Gallego as a meeting in Austin last week, and Gallego has agreed to come to Van Horn in the very near future to meet with local leaders and Texas Department of Transportation District Engineer Chuck Berry. The purpose will be to iron out the details on repair and improvement work planned for State Highway 54 in town as well as other improvements sought by the town along the Broadway corridor.
Before concluding the session, McCoy also reported that he has been in discussions with several companies in the oil and gas business that have expressed interest in relocating to Van Horn due to the increased oil and gas activity here.
McCoy reminded directors that, because of the confidential nature of these business contacts, the names of the companies could not be made public at this time.
Directors at the Tuesday meeting were President Larry Simpson, Secretary Becky Brewster, Treasurer Laura Barragan, Susie Hinojos, and Linda Rodriguez.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
I have been censored by my husband, the Editor, this week. But that’s okay. He’s much wiser and I’m sure knows best about when to state an opinion and when it’s best to just wait. Although I would like to know - “Who is Jane Smith?”
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A friend passed this along to us, and it is certainly worth the time it will take you to read it. A little food for thought is always a good thing.
The Mayonnaise Jar and
2 Cups of Coffee
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes”.
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions - and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else - the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with you children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, “I’m glad you asked. The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
February 21st - Trustees of Culberson County-Allamoore ISD are scheduled to meet this evening at 6 p.m. at the District Administration Building. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the firehouse. The Van Horn Lady Eagle softball team will be competing in a tournament in El Paso today.
February 22nd - The Van Horn Junior High track teams will be competing in the Crane Track Meet at Iraan today. The Van Horn Lady Eagle softball team will be competing in an El Paso tournament today. The Van Horn Eagle JV baseball team will play Ft. Stockton here today at Clark Field beginning at 5 p.m.
February 23rd - The Van Horn Eagle varsity and JV track teams will be competing at the Comanche Relays in Ft. Stockton today. The Van Horn Lady Eagle softball team will be competing in an El Paso tournament today. The Van Horn Eagle baseball team will play a double-header today against Presidio at Clark Field beginning at 11 a.m.
February 24th - Attend the church of your choice.
February 25th - Members of the Van Horn Lions Club are slated to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Sands Restaurant.
February 26th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are slated to meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant. The Van Horn Lady Eagle softball team will play McCamey in McCamey today beginning at 5 p.m. The Van Horn Eagle baseball team will play Ft. Hancok at Clark Field today beginning at 7 p.m.
February 27th - Nothing scheduled at press time.