Friday's Internet Edition, July 04, 2008.
|
|
American Talc buys Milwhite.... Last Friday American Talc Company became the official owner of the Milwhite assets, here in Van Horn. The facility will now be known as American Talc @ Wildhorse. American Talc’s general manager Steve Harms reports that there have been some shifts in employees with their other mining operations west of Van Horn. If sufficient new business can be generated, American Talc will attempt to minimize employee layoffs. Steve Harms told the Advocate that American Talc purchased the assets of Milwhite but not the indebtedness of the company. The move makes American Talc the only player in the local talc mining operations. American Talc is a significant North American ceramic talc producer, but small compared to the major talc producers in the US and world market.
|
- Directors of Van Horn’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) met Tuesday afternoon and voted to proceed to borrow some $40,000 to finish the renovation of the “Business Incubator” building formerly known as the Willis Building.
Directors approved borrowing the money from the Van Horn State Bank and it will be repaid from Economic Development Sales Tax proceeds.
The EDC has already purchased new windows and doors for the facility and the cost estimate, as developed by EDC Executive Director Jeff McCoy, to finish up the revamped facility includes about $15,000 for labor and about $25,000 for materials.
McCoy estimates that it will take about a month and a half to finish it up so that Michael Hidalgo can commence operation of the Business Incubator. In fact, McCoy noted that Hidalgo already has, in addition to himself, several other local artisans lined up to exhibit and sell their works at the location.
During the Tuesday session, McCoy told the directors that he has already spent some $872 for materials to finish up the Project 7 Room. Directors had, last month, authorized an additional $5,000 to finish up the Project 7 Room so that it can become the place where Van Horn’s dreams, visions and hopes can be made available to the public.
McCoy also reported that the Main Street board of directors had agreed to partner with the Clark Hotel Museum and the EDC to provide some facade improvements to both of these facilities which are in the center of town.
McCoy reported that he was going to be in Dallas for the next two weeks representing the EDC, Texas Mountain Trail and the town at the State Fair. He noted that the exposure for our area at the Fair is nearly 13,000 folks.
McCoy further reported that the EDC has had two inquiries from private businesses looking to locate in our area. He said that he has spoken with County Judge Molinar and Paul Blankenburg about developing an incentive package that might be attractive to these oil and gas related businesses.
Directors further allocated up to $1,000 to hire some high school youths, currently employed by the city on a part-time basis, to assist with EDC and Texas Mountain Trail activities as the need arises.
Before concluding the session, directors noted that the terms of four directors are up and they asked Becky Brewster to present their names again as willing to continue serving. The four are Laura Barragan, Paul Blankenburg, Becky Brewster, and Larry Simpson.
Trustees hold learning session, table action on change order
Culberson County-Allamore Independent School District trustees met Tuesday evening for both a learning session and to consider approval of a renovation project change order.
The meeting was held without Superintendent Anne Pemberton, who lost her daughter last Tuesday and she has not returned from the Austin area.
Trustees heard representatives from the Tornillo school district as they explained, for nearly 3 hours, what school boards are to do, how they are to operate, and the role they play in keeping the district focused of plans, goals, and direction.
At one point during the training session, trustees recessed that meeting and opened another one for the purpose of considering approval of a change order to the district’s bond-financed renovation project.
The change order, as proposed, would give the contractor, Lupe Alvarado of AAA Security Construction, an additional $392,000+ to hire a roofing contractor from the Midland/Odessa area to finish the high school and field house roofing.
Trustee Joe Morales, citing what they had learned during the training session, made the motion to table the matter until such time as our superintendent can be here. That motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Trustees then adjourned that meeting and reopened the training meeting to finish the session with the representatives from Tornillo.
It should be noted that upon reopening the meeting, trustees gave Mrs. John Clark an opportunity to speak under Citizens Forum. Mrs. Clark chastised trustees for holding the ill-timed meetings while a grieving superintendent was away. Basically, she was saying “Shame on you for being so insensitive.”
1st Annual Bike Rally is here this weekend
Van Horn is going to experience it’s first motorcycle rally this weekend. Sponsored by Van Horn’s “The Pack West Texas,” the rally will be held on September 29th and 30th.
The event will be held at the Van Horn Community Center and bikes will begin to assemble around 8 a.m. Among the events planned are: A Poker Run to Ft Davis; A 50/50 Drawing - Balance Beam; and a Slow Ride - Swinging Hot Dog.
The event will feature a bike show, vendors, drawings, and music by a local DJ.
So make your plans to come on out to the Community Center this Saturday and Sunday and enjoy the “hogs,” music and vendors. You’ll be glad you did.
Unemployment rate in county drops to 2.6%
The latest numbers from the Texas Workforce Commission for the West Texas area have just been released and the statistics for Culberson County are good.
The Texas Workforce Commission reports that for August 2007, the unemployment rate in the county stood at 2.6%. According to a report issued by the Upper Rio Grande at Work, that figure is the lowest for the six reporting counties in the region.
According to that report, the August 2007 unemployment rates for the six counties is as follows: Brewster County: 2.9%; Culberson County: 2.6%; El Paso County: 5.5%; Hudspeth County: 5.2%; Jeff Davis County: 3.6%; and Presidio County: 9.9%.
Across the state, the unemployment rate fell to 4.1% in August and has remained below 5% since last August.