Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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| "Eyesore" coming down.... The old “Royal Motel” property, located on East Broadway, has been sold at long last and workers have begun the process of tearing the old building down. It is rumored to be the site of some new apartments to house crews and folks who are in Van Horn for prolonged stays. |
- Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday, November 6th to cast their ballots on 16 proposed state Constitutional amendments, whether to take in the rest of the county into the Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District, and whether to approve the school districts proposed tax rate of $1.21771.
Voter turnout is expected to be better here simply because of the added propositions that voters in this county are voting on.
The 16 proposed Constitutional amendments have already been published and have received widespread coverage in various news media, therefore, we will not devote much time to them. We will attempt to publish a sample ballot if it can be read when reduced to fit the newspaper (the ballot is 8.5” by 17” and it is on both sides).
The Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District’s Roll Back Election portion of the ballot is perhaps the most significant. Voters in the District are being asked to approve a tax rate of $1.21771 which amounts to a tax roll back rate because it is will raise more money from taxes than last year’s budget.
Trustees, you may recall, approved an operating budget in late August which calls for the proposed tax rate in order to meet ongoing maintenance and operations of the district.
Because of the proposed tax rate, voters are being asked to either approve of the rate or to disapprove of it. If disapproved, the tax rate will be 13 cents less than the proposal.
If disapproved, the district then would have to look at budget areas to cut or continue to fund the budget from their fund balance.
Unfortunately, the voter is not privileged to know how much money is in the district’s fund balance right now because the audit report for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2007 is not complete yet.
According to the audit report for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, the district had over $2 million in it’s fund balance and we don’t know how much fund balance is dedicated over and above that $2 million. And, we just do not know how much added money will be put in the fund balance for the fiscal year just ended.
District officials report that they need a minimum of 3 months operational money in the fund balance because it takes that long for state monies to start flowing into the district. The district spends about $500,000 per month for maintenance and operations therefore they need at least $1.5 million in the fund balance.
So voters in the district can decide the fate of the proposed tax rate be voting for the rate or against the rate. The actual wording of the proposition may be confusing to some, therefore we are putting the wording as it actually appears on the ballot.
“Proposition
Approving the Ad Valorem Tax Rate of $1.21771 in Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District for the current year, a rate that is $.13 higher per $100 valuation than the School District Roll Back Rate.”
Voters are to vote for or against the proposition. A vote for the proposition sets your tax rate at $1.21771 and a vote against the proposition sets your tax rate at $.13 less.
The other key item on the November 6th ballot is whether to include the whole county in the Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District. Since this election involves property which is on the eastern portion of the county, only voters in Precincts 3-3 and 4-6 will be voting on the proposition.
The Groundwater District hopes that the proposition will pass thereby making the Groundwater District’s boundaries the same as the county boundary.
There is, however, some opposition to this proposal from absentee property owners in the eastern portion of the county and the Groundwater District will have to let the voters decide the fate of the proposal.
Early voting for this election commenced on Monday and continues through November 2nd. To cast your ballot early in these elections, go to the county clerk’s office.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Congratulations Eagle Band! I was so proud of you Saturday at the Marching Contest in El Paso. You did so well that I was quite sure it had to be a Division I – and sure enough you made us so happy. Now just keep up that confidence and you can do it again this Saturday in Lubbock. I’d love to plan a trip to San Antonio to see you march at State. Best of Luck!! You can do it!!
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Could I ask a stupid question? What happened to all the talk last year out of City Hall about enforcing ordinances and getting rid of junk cars, etc.? You know what I’m talking about. Well it seems to have been long forgotten. I’m sure there are the usual excuses but quite frankly I’m tired of it. Am I the only one that is bothered by things like the mess that we have to look at right in the center of town on Main Street at the corner of Cypress St.? I’m sorry, but other towns seem to be able to prevent these things in order to keep a clean and attractive downtown area. Why can’t we? Please let me know if I’m the only one who thinks this way and I’ll try to forget it and accept that “It’s just Van Horn and who cares?.” HOGWASH!
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My geraniums, ferns, impatiens, coleus and hibiscus dodged a bullet Monday night! When I checked the temperature and saw that 31 I was scared I would have nothing to bring in for the winter and back out next Spring. I always rely fully on Robert, the weatherman on KDBC, to tell me when to expect a freeze and he let me down. But I think it didn’t stay cold long enough to kill things. When the sun came out most things looked only nipped but not totally gone. Now we can probably enjoy a few more weeks of our wonderful fall weather.
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Looking Back Thru the Pages of The Advocate……
October, 1947 – An ad for the El Capitan Hotel and Coffee Shop: “60 rooms of home comfort, all with baths. Fine coffee shop with excellent food.” (I guess in this case it’s ‘what goes around, comes around’. I can’t wait for the announcement, probably in the next few weeks.)
The Wylie residence was completely destroyed by fire. They had built the house 35 years earlier.
Mrs. Reba Greaves is teaching her 4th year in Van Horn. Teachers at the Mexican School include Miss Neva Harrell, Mrs. Pat Armstrong and Mrs. A.H. Mills.
October, 1957 - The E.M. Lovelady 5 Cents to $1.00 store held a formal opening of their new store in downtown Van Horn.
Culberson County Farm & Ranch Association Board of Directors elected John Conoly as their president.
A survey was being done in Van Horn for the feasibility of bringing natural gas here.
October, 1967 – Two newly built churches are opening for services, the Iglesia Adventista Del Septimo Dia and the Iglesia Del Nazareno.
Fred Clark Estate has agreed to donate a building site for a hospital if such a project is approved.
School Board initiated possible building plan after hearing from an official of Elcor Chemical Corp. of the sulfur plant to be built in Culberson County.
October, 1977 – Missouri Pacific officially closed the Van Horn Depot office bringing an end to the era of railroad passenger service in Van Horn.
On the recommendation of Superintendent McMichael, the school board appointed Jerry Sturman to fill the unexpired vacant seat on the board.
Linda Luna (our current County Clerk) was crowned Homecoming Queen.
King Cotton seemed once again to reign in the county due to an upswing of cotton prices. Culberson Gin has ginned more cotton in first three days than in two precious years combined.
October, 1987 – School board trustees appointed Sylvia Tomlinson and Don Collins to fill two unexpired vacancies on their board. (I wonder why our current school board doesn’t feel the necessity to do the same?)
The 1st Annual Golf Championship event was played at the local golf course. Jack Watts was the winner.
October, 1997 – First Baptist Church celebrated their 100th Anniversary.
Eagle Cross Country runners won their 2nd consecutive district title. Team members were Josh Alvarado, Chris Biggs, Oscar Borrego, Mark Fuentes, Joey Gomez, Arturo Gonzales, Walt Hale, Wesley Jackson, Ryan O’Donnell and Fidal Venegas.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park celebrated its 25th Birthday.
Culberson County learned that Texas’ low-level radioactive waste disposal could be located just east of Sierra Blanca.
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Congratulations to Ryan Serrano on becoming a Green Beret. You have my upmost respect, as well as my deepest gratitude for your service to our country. My ‘Thought for the Week’ is in your honor…….
“Land of the free….because of the brave.”
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
October 25th - The Van Horn Junior High 7th & 8th grade football teams play Kermit here today beginning at 4 p.m. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the firehouse.
October 26th - The Van Horn Eagles play the Kermit Yellowjackets here today with kick-off set for 7:30 p.m.
October 27th - The Van Horn Eagle Marching Band competes in Area U.I.L. Marching Contest today in Lubbock.
October 28th - Attend the church of your choice.
October 29th - The Van Horn Junior High 7th & 8th grade volleyball teams play Ft. Davis here today.
October 30th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are scheduled to meet today at noon at Chuy’s.
October 31st - Halloween.