Saturday's Internet Edition, July 31, 2010.
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| JJ Baca proudly stands with the helmet he won in Dallas and his Player of the Week Trophy. (Photo courtesy of CCAISD) |
- During the 2009 football season, senior JJ Baca was presented with the Texas High School Player of the Week award for week 7. He was the only player from our district that was chosen for this award.
At a home pep rally, he received a trophy from Ford representatives. The high school also received one as well. He was also given an invitation for a banquet at the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. Only the chosen players could attend along with one other person. Since his family is very supportive, especially his aunts Diana and Rosenda Baeza, J.J.’s decision was hard to make.
He decided to take his dad, Miguel Mendoza, and on March 6, J.J. and his dad flew to Dallas. Their flight and hotel were also paid by Ford.
Entering the Cowboys stadium, they were greeted by Ford representatives and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. They were then taken on a tour of the stadium, where they met commentators from Fox Sports.
Their dinner was held in the Cowboy’s locker room. As they walked in, a name tag and a jersey with each winner’s last name and football number was placed inside each of the Dallas Cowboy’s locker. J.J.’s happened to be in Roy William’s locker.
During their meal, the winner’s clips from TV were playing one after the other on a huge screen. A copy of that presentation was given to each winner. Jay Ratliff sat at J.J.’s table and gave him advice on his future.
J.J. mentioned he was really nice and laid back and was like any regular person. After dinner, a signed helmet by Jay Ratliff, Jerry Jones, and Wade Phillips was raffled to only one person at each table. J.J. was one of the lucky ones to receive one.
This was his most memorable moment. He will receive a ring with his name and football number.
Player of the Week was not the only honor he received. He also received Offensive MVP and 2nd Team All-State Running Back. For basketball, he was Defensive MVP. He was also nominated Most Athletic in our high school. In Dave Campbell’s High School Football Magazine, he was player of the year for our region.
We are all proud of J.J.’s accomplishments and wish him luck in his future.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Well, how did you like our ‘Welcome Spring’ surprise. Waking up to yet another snowfall for the year was indeed a surprise, but as we have been saying, ‘the moisture was good’. That snow brought our winter’s total snowfall inches to 16 ½. I wonder if that might have been a record. So let’s hope that this was our annual late March cold front and we can quit worrying about the peaches being killed for the year. Although our peach and pear trees are in bloom, I don’t think that the fruit had actually formed yet so maybe we’ll still have that great fresh fruit this year.
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Have you checked out the new ‘Cornerstone’ shop yet? They have a nice variety of specialty coffees, as well as tea, ‘Cornerstone Cocoa’, and a “Not Coffee” menu. I can tell you for sure that the Cornerstone Caramel Macchiato is ‘to die for’ and beats Starbucks to pieces. I could get hooked on that real quick. Their coffees come fresh roasted and are ground just before brewing. Drop in and chat with the Gilmores and the Howards. You’ll get a warm welcome for sure. The new business is unique for Van Horn, and that’s always a good thing.
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I attended the Open House at the schools on Tuesday and as always I came away with a new appreciation for our school district and our great teachers. When I went into Mrs. Buchhorn’s class with my granddaughter, I realized how long she and I both had been here in Van Horn. She not only taught our two daughters, but is now on grandchild #5. And what a blessing it has been for all of them to have a Science teacher in Junior High like Mrs. Buchhorn. They don’t come any better in my view.
A BIG thank you to all our teachers for the work you do. It’s not a job I could do but I’m sure glad that we have a dedicated group here that has the passion for teaching.
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A major turning point in the dismantling of the values and institutions of America was reached on Sunday, March21st with the passing of the Health Care Reform Bill and our Constitution took a bit of a hit as well. Every step towards massive federal government growth, such as this bill, comes at the expense of our personal liberties. Yes, we have to call it what it is – another step closer to socialism. How many things have been taken over by this current administration? At least four I think.
Legal action was set in motion just minutes after the bill was signed by 13 state lawmakers and attorneys general, with many more contemplating the same, perhaps as many as 38 states. So this is not over. The liberal Democratic leadership may have won this battle but the war is far from over.
Is it the beginning of the end of America as we have known it, or a rebirth of Freedom? I believe it is the latter. A sleeping lion has been awakened. When you see legislators defy the will of the majority of the people, it is certainly time to take action, not sit back and ‘hope’ that the ‘change’ we are beginning to see will not bring us down as a nation. A poll taken just this week shows that 79% of Americans think that our country is on the brink of financial disaster! 79%!! This recent horrific health care bill will certainly push us over that brink. Is it a chance we can afford to sit back and wait to see what happens? For the sake of my grandchildren and their children, I refuse to do that. Senator Judd Gregg, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, put it this way – “It is like a huge asteroid, heading to earth and it is going to fall on the heads of our children and grandchildren. (If you want some honest facts about this, google Senator Judd Gregg.)
So I will do the only thing I can do at this point, besides pray for this nation. I will wait to see who wins the April 10th Republican Primary Run-Off Election between Conseco and Hurd. Whoever it is will be running in November against our present Congressman, Ciro Rodriguez, who voted FOR the Health Care Reform Bill, and has shown his intention of being on the big-government, Pelosi, liberal bandwagon. I will do whatever I can to help unseat him.
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The following poem, “Forever A Cowboy” was written by Tyler Brewster, son of Susan Brewster, and grandson of D.H. and Ruth Brewster. It was a school project and he won 1st place in the high school division. Great job, Tyler!
I’m a cowboy tenacious and brave. Nothing will change that, not even the grave. Been here in Big Bend country all of my life, no need for big cities and all of that strife. Not many of my kind around these days; folks scratching out a living all kinds of other ways. Got my saddle, boots and hat, don’t need much more than that. With reins in my hand, I ride hard for the brand. My stout bay Mustang strikes out at a lope, hooves crashing over rocks sending sparks up in the air, no cattle can evade us, they don’t even dare. At the top of the Mesa I let my pony blow, watching purple, pinks and violets of the suns evening glow. Couldn’t ask for a prettier place to live, more blessings or beauty God couldn’t give. I’ll always be a cowboy living wild and living free. Being a cowboy is the only life for me.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
March 25th - The Van Horn Junior High Track teams will be competing in the Grandfalls Track Meet today.The American Legio Post 508 will meet this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Legion Building.
March 26th - The Van Horn Eagle track teams are slated to run in the Wink Relays today at Wink. The Van Horn Eagle baseball team will host Ft. Hancock in a district contest today beginning at 5 p.m. The Van Horn Lady Eagle softball team will play Marfa here today beginning at 4 p.m.
March 27th - Nothing scheduled at press time.
March 28th - Palm Sunday. Attend the church of your choice today.
March 29th - Nothing scheduled at press time.
March 30th - The Van Horn Rotary Club will meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant. The Van Horn Eagle baseball team will play a district contest today against McCamey, in McCamey, beginning at 5 p.m. The Van Hornn Lady Eagle softball team will play McCamey today, in McCamey, beginning at 5 p.m.
March 31st - Nothing scheduled at press time.