Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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| Health Fair a success! Van Horn’s Community Health Fair, held at the Convention Center last Saturday, was a huge success according to sponsors Culberson Hospital and the Texas Department of State Health Services. Over 30 different exhibitors/health care providers were present. Attendance was better than the last couple of years. Above, several locals wait in line for one of the lab tests offered at reduced rates during the Fair. |
- Culberson County commissioners learned, at their meeting Monday morning, that Dependable Trucking Company out of Carlsbad, New Mexico is prepared to make a firm commitment to relocate a field office here.
Jeff McCoy, of Van Horn Economic Development Corporation, and Paul Blankenburg, of Blue Quail Oil & Gas Consulting Services, told commissioners that the Carlsbad company wants to move an office and put 6 trucks at the Airport Industrial Park. They’ll hire drivers locally and will bring a supervisor in.
They further told commissioners that the deal is able to come about because the commissioners had previously agreed to provide 5 acres of land at little or no cost as well as clear it and make the land ready for use.
McCoy asked commissioners to proceed with getting the land surveyed and clear so that it could be made available. Time is of the essence, as the Carlsbad company is ready to deploy their trucks here.
County Attorney Mitchell suggested that he get with County Judge Molinar and McCoy to finalize the details for presentation at next month’s court meeting.
McCoy and Blankenburg noted that this is good news for Van Horn and the county. “The oil patch is going to move forward and we are at the hub of the activity. Once the first company moves here, more will follow,” added Blankenburg.
Grant Administrator Becky Brewster appeared before commissioners to ask them to approve authorizing non-competitive negotiation for construction services on the Phase II Youth Center Grant. She has been unable to find any bidder that can get down to the available grant funds. As such, she’s been given the okay to look for a non-competitive negotiation for construction services.
Commissioners approved the concept and letter so stating. While talking the Youth Center grant, Brewster asked Commissioners to consider having the dirt work done by early February if at all possible. Most of the dirt has been moved onto the site.
And, while talking grants, commissioners approved the final close out on the TxDOT Border Colonias Grant which paved several streets in the town.
With regard to other agenda items considered by commissioners, they took the following actions:
* Approved payment of 1/2 of an engine repair bill for the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department, as well as 1/2 of the alternator repair presented. The total is $2,500. The deal was provided the city would also pay 1/2.
* Tax Assessor-Collector Molly Hernandez came before commissioners to ask them to approve repayment of some $2,000 +/- to the City of El Paso for taxes paid twice.
* Commissioners agreed to a contract with Mike Ward, of Fort Davis, to be the interim city/county Emergency Management Coordinator. As such, he will be paid $125 per month by the county and $125 a month by the city. In his capacity, Ward will get the county up to snuff on plans and compliance so as to not miss out on future grant opportunities. Additionally, if and when someone locally is brought on board to be the coordinator, Ward will assist in their training.
* Learned that the grant application to the Texas Capital Fund for a Royal Farms project approved by commissioners last month had not been funded in this grant funding cycle. The project will be resubmitted in the next funding cycle in March or April.
* Commissioners approved, after some discussion, payment of a $3,500 allotment to Rainbow Express Day Care Center. The county already pays the utilities on the Center and this allotment will be used to pay the Center’s insurance bill.
* They approved a recommended sale of property to Manuel Baeza The sale will get the property back on the tax rolls according to County Judge Molinar.
* Commissioners approved holidays for 2008 as presented. Holidays amount to 15 or 16 days.
* And, they approved the vehicle mileage rate for 2008 as set by the Internal Revenue Service. The rate is 50 and 1/2 cents per mile.
* Commissioners approved $1,200 so that County Attorney Steve Mitchell could attend the Wind Energy Institute’s forthcoming seminar.
* Learned that Auditor Mark Cabezuela and Nutrition Center Director Tencha Sanchez had worked to obtain a $9,000 for the Nutrition Center.
* After appointing a Salary Grievance Committee, and learning that the county had applied for a Solid Waste Grant, commissioners approved budget amendments as presented and okayed the submitted monthly reports.
* Prior to adjourning the meeting, commissioners approved monthly bills and salaries amounting to $240,348.47. Bills were $126,897.61 and salaries were $113,450.86.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Thanks a bunch to the Culberson Hospital and the Texas Department of State Health Services for the Health Fair on Saturday. I know it’s a lot of work but certainly an important event for the community as we are reminded that preventative health care is the best way to go. There were lots of different entities represented, offering lots of information, testing, etc. If you missed it this year, try to make the effort next year. It could be the thing that alerts you to a possible health risk.
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We appreciated Congressman Rodriguez stopping by the Advocate on his last visit to Van Horn. I know his schedule is a busy one and we’re glad to be included in it, even if just to say Hello. A representative from the Congressman’s office will be in town again next Wednesday at the courthouse. I think that indicates that he is trying to stay in touch with us and I appreciate that. It’s our fault then, if we don’t respond.
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And on that subject let me say that I really enjoy politics! Now before you start thinking that anyone admitting that has to be a little crazy, let me explain. I don’t necessarily like all politicians and I especially don’t like political talk when it is just for political reasons. I don’t like politicians that change their opinions with every changing poll or those that talk in circles and never directly answer a question. I don’t like extreme partisan politics most of all.
What I do like is our political system, and our system of elections. It may have a flaw or two and we may get real sick of it during an election year, but that’s the fault of the news media as much as anything. However, I wonder if you could find a better system than ours if you looked the world over.
Maybe because Government was one of my favorite subjects in school, I enjoy watching the process of elections play out. I can’t wait to watch the news at the end of a day when there’s been a primary to see who came out on top. I don’t always like the results, but I still enjoy watching the process. And I think if there were more who appreciated our system and how it works, enough to get a little excited about it, there would be far less apathy by ‘we the people’.
So get a little involved in the process. You don’t have to rush home and become a junky of the evening news like I am, but at least become a little educated about our election process and get a little ‘into it’ as it plays out this year. Please don’t ever be one of those who say that “I don’t care because I don’t vote anyway.” If you are, shame on you and you might should move to one of those countries where you wouldn’t be able to vote even if you wanted to! Yes, you should vote, even if you don’t particularly like any of the candidates. Just pick the one that you dislike the least and vote!
The one frustrating thing to me is that I won’t be able to have a say in the Republican candidates running for president, since we rarely have a Republican Primary here in Culberson County. And even if we did, in order to have a say in the local offices you have to vote in the Democratic Primary, since that is where local candidates always file. It would be nice if it were all together like it is in the General Election in November. So I guess in that big race I’ll just have to be a spectator.
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It was heartbreaking Tuesday night when our varsity basketball boys literally played their hearts out and came up short by 2 points. And it was against Kermit, a much larger school. We were proud of you just the same, guys.
I sort of hope we drop down to 1A classification again next year. It’s been hard playing these schools in our district that are at the top of 2A and we’re border line 1A.
Of course what would be even better is to begin to grow a little as a town and increase our school enrollment. Maybe this is the year!
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A few months ago the El Paso Times stopped their home delivery. I miss that but at least we can buy it from a stand at the Post Office. However, that might not last too much longer. This morning when I was buying a paper, the guy that delivers it here was putting the new ones in. He was frustrated and for good reason. The money he collected out of the machine was about 40 papers short. He said, “That was my gas money.” People are opening up the machine with 50 cents and then taking several papers. In other words they are stealing!! I hope the next time someone does that their conscience keeps them awake at night. It may just be newspapers, but stealing is stealing and last time I checked my Bible one of the Ten Commandments is still “Thou Shalt Not Steal”.
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It’s Stock Show Time! Hopefully this cold wind will have gone away and it will be a nice warm West Texas winter day. Go out and support our 4-H kids. But it just won’t be the same without Michael Davis! I wouldn’t be surprised to see him there helping. He’s like that. Good Luck to each of the participants!
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Have you checked out the school district’s web site lately? It’s been revamped and made easier to use. Check it out at www.ccaisd.net. Steven Urias and Roland Gomez are the technology experts behind the improvements and they did good!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
January 17th - Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Departmentn are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse.
January 18th - The 59th Annual Culberson County Livestock Show begins this eveninig at 5 p.m. at the Show Barn. The Van Horn Eagle girls and boys JV and varsity basketball teams play Crane this evening in Crane beginning at 5 p.m.
January 19th - The 59th Annual Culberson County Livestock Show begins today at the Show Barn at 9 a.m.
January 20th - Attend the church of your choice.
January 21st - Martin L. King, Jr. Holiday. Trustees of Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District are scheduled to meet this evening at 6 p.m. at the District Administration Building.
January 22nd - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are slated to meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant. The Van Horn Eagle boys and girls JV and varsity basketball teams play Alpine here tonight with games beginning at 5 p.m.
January 23rd - Nothing scheduled at press time.