Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
|
| "Toys for Tots" delivered.... The Pack-West Texas Motorcycle Club delivered the 1st annual “Toys for Tots” gifts to children of the community last Saturday. The children were surprised and enjoyed every ooment as they received the gifts. Pictured above is one such youngster receving her gift from Club members. |
- Trustees of Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District, during their meeting Monday evening, authorized the interim superintendent and the district business manager to look for better investment opportunities for some district funds.
Trustees instructed them to insure that these investment opportunities comply with pertinent regulations concerning tax payer/public funds. What they hope to achieve is a better interest rate than they not get on monies deposited in the local branch bank.
Trustees also learned, during the session, that the district’s Technology Plan has been rewritten to bring it up to snuff with the Texas Long Range Technology Plan.
At the same time, trustees approved soliciting of proposals for Cycle 11 E-Rate purchases. These purchases are paid for out of grant monies set aside by the state and federal government for districts.
This year, the district will be reimbursed for communications and internet services and well as maintenance of some systems.
As trustees approved these solicitations, they acknowledged that the district will spend about $30,000 and will be getting about $250,000 in goods and services. A good return on the investment dollar.
After saying no to a proposed honors Robotics curriculum for the time being, they did approve the course description as well as a 5 point standard for incoming freshmen this year.
Trustees then made a tough call when they voted unanimously to not allow any senior to walk the stage at graduation unless they have met all the state mandated requirements.
The decision came because they relented on that requirement last year and then the students did not follow through with getting state requirements met.
They asked administrators to make sure that parents and seniors were advised of this policy shift.
With regard to other matters considered by trustees, the following actions were taken:
* Trustees recognized the all district and regional qualifiers in cross country, volleyball, football, and band.
* They approved advertising for another special education aide.
Trustees held a hearing on exempting tangible personal property and then they adopted a resolution to tax that property, if any exists, in the district.
* They held a hearing on the Academic Excellence Indicator System and learned that the High School had been awarded a Gold Performance Award for its performance in English Language Arts (ELA) last year.
* Trustees also heard Superintendent Anne Pemberton provide a report on some ongoing Technical Assistance, Campus Improvement, and School District Report Card matters.
* After approving bills and salaries, although figures were never mentioned, trustees went behind closed doors for what turned out to be a brief executive session.
Upon reconvening, they reported that no action needed to be taken and then recognized that the meeting would be Pemberton’s last since she is taking a position in another district after December 21st
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Did you ever have those times when your mind just didn’t seem to be working very well. This is one of those weeks for me. I wanted so much to be inspired with something meaningful to say for this, our Christmas issue, but it just wasn’t happening. So, I went to a place where I knew there would be something - back to the issues of the Advocate when Gene Dow was publisher. He wrote a great column called “Van Horn Vagabond” and the following is his column from the Christmas issue of 1964. Thanks Gene, for helping me out this week!
CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS
How should we approach Christmas? Surely with the desire to enter into the joy and gaity of children; with the desire to be at peace with all men; with a high resolve to forgive all those who have injured us; with an equal determination to lift our own lives to a higher level. God is a spirit, and the spirit of Christmas should ever be a unifying force amongst the children of men. - - Martin Burrell.
IF NO CHRISTMAS
If there were no Christmas, would we love little children, and one another, as much? Would another day have been set apart for a frank display of the finest sentiments of which the human heart is capable? Could any other event than the birth and life of the greatest Man who ever lived have inspired a day so fraught with loving kindness and sweet charity?
The joyous thing about Christmas is that we realize for all too brief season that life is much more than making a living. We take time to stop and smile and be friendly with everybody. We look into one another’s souls and we see kindness, gentleness, sympathy and understanding, where we had thought to behold only selfishness, indifference and greed.
As long as this is true we may rest assured that no one will ever be able to cut Christmas out of the calendar, nor out of the hearts of humanity.
LETTER TO SANTA
Dear Santa,
It has been a long time since I have written you. I have now moved from the old home on Happy Street to a new house on Loneliness & Doubt, which stands at the end of Disillusion Avenue.
All the gloriously bright little baubles that I had in years gone by are now either broken or tarnished and tear-stained.
Please bring me a few of those precious toys that I once had - the shining bubbles of joy, the tinkling bells of cheer that rang in my voice, the candles of faith that shone in my eyes, the frankincense and myrrh of steadfast hope that strengthened my soul and the lodestar of universal love that gleamed in my heart.
In the years past, I realize I did not appreciate those priceless treasures or care for them as I should have - but now I repent my carelessness and humbly ask you to remember me with another supply this Christmas.
I will hang my empty heart by the chimney, Santa, and please, this is what I want:
Give me a large basket of forgetfullness with which to cover up all bitterness and useless brooding, a larger box of forgiveness for those who robbed me of laughter and filled my eyes with tears. Leave me enough of the cement of hope to mend the shattered fragments of joy, tuck in a little song of cheer, and please Santa, leave quite a lot of plain old-fashioned faith, understanding, unselfishness and tolerance that I can share freely with my neighbors.
A Grown-up Child
* * * * * *
And just a few words to add of my own.....If you are feeling this way at this Christmas season, you might try looking to the Christ Child - and then beyond to His death on the Cross. For it is only then that we experience life to its fullest, and peace and joy that only He can bring.
Have a Blessed Christmas Season!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
December 20th - Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse.
December 21st - The Van Horn Eagle boys varsity basketball team is slated to play Lydia Patterson here today beginning at noon.
December 22nd - Nothing scheduled at press time.
December 23rd - Attend the church of your choice.
December 24th - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church.
December 25th - Merry Christmas!
December26th - Nothing scheduled at press time.
December 27th - Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse.
December 28th - Nothing scheduled at press time.
December 29th - Nothing scheduled at press time.
December 30th - Nothing scheduled at press time.
December 31st - Nothing scheduled at press time.
January 1st - Happy New Year! The Van Horn City Council is scheduled to meet this morning at 10 a.m at City Hall.
January 2nd - Noting scheduled at press time.