Friday's Internet Edition, July 04, 2008.
|
| Future "Spirit Leaders" These young cheerleaders represent future “Spirit Leaders.” They practice several times a week and will be performing during Van Horn Eagle home games throughout the year. They are coached by local ladies with the invaluable assistance of Mario Villanueva, who is a former UTEP Miner cheerleader. |
- Trustees of the Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District met Monday evening to consider three agenda items. These included: Do we want to fill the vacancy of the board of trustees?; Do we want to approve more money for the district’s renovation project contractor?; and Who do we hire as our new business manager.
However, before they considered these three items, John Clark and Pete Torres addressed them under the “Citizens Forum” item.
Clark told trustees, “How can we guarantee that the bad decision you made recently by putting an unqualified person with close ties to a board member won’t be made again? How can we be assured that the decisions you make in the future will be in the best interest of the students and not someone’s personal agenda?”
Clark also asked trustees “to fill the vacancy of the board.”
Clark went on to suggest that board members take the “TASB Audit for School Board Members.” And, he concluded by stating, “If you can’t guarantee the citizens that you will do these, then I would suggest that you resign from the board.”
Trustees thanked Clark for his comments and proceeded to hear Pete Torres. Torres was concerned that “there was not an ambulance at last Friday’s game in Wink and injuries caused delays in the game twice.”
He also voiced concern over, “an injury to a game official last Friday which made his ability to officiate properly come into question. And, it was on his side that there may have been a questionable call which determined the outcome of the game.”
Torres believes that it should be a policy that ambulances be at all games (provided by the host team) and there should be a backup official in the event one gets hurt.
Following these comments, trustees proceeded to discuss whether to fill the vacancy on the board created by the resignation of Ruben Robledo last month.
Trustee Lisa Cottrell made a motion that trustees consider filling the vacancy and that motion was seconded by trustee Andrea Ramirez. It was voted down 3 votes to 2. Trustees voting against filling the vacancy were Lupe Alvarado, Angie Gonzales and Joe Morales.
Trustees next directed their attention to Lupe Alvarado, the contractor on the school district’s bond financed renovation project.
At the outset, Alvarado told trustees that, “When I bid this project, I did it at my cost! And my bid was $2.2 million less than the only other bidder.”
Alvarado went on to explain the problems he had with the first roofing contractor and how that led to delays and his company doing the roofing work. “Work, he never held himself out as qualified to do.”
He also told trustees, “I halted work on the project because you told me to!” Whereupon trustee Lisa Cottrell responded, “We told you that we needed to take care of the Elementary, Junior High and Cafeteria roofs before you moved on. And, the architect recommended that you hire a qualified roofer to finish the high school and field house roofs.”
Lupe Alvarado then told trustees that he had located a qualified roofer in the Midland/Odessa area that would finish the high school and field house roofs for an estimated $574,385.90.
He went on to tell trustees that he already has materials on hand in the amount of $43,369.75. There is also project money on hand in the amount of $108,795. And, he has made a deal with the contractor to provide some in kind labor valued at $30,000.
That makes the change order for your approval $392,221.15.
Trustees opted to go behind closed doors to discuss the matter before deciding.
Before entering executive session, trustees approved payment of bills and salaries noting that this was the second month in a row without the usual cash flow and payroll reports.
Following the executive session, trustees voted to table the matter of whether to approve the requested change order or not.
Then they address the final matter on the meeting agenda. Superintendent Anne Pemberton recommended that trustees hire Julie Uranga to be the district’s new business manager. Uranga replaces Angelica Robledo whose resignation effective October 5th has already been accepted by trustees. Uranga's employment was effective immediately.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Our prayers go out to Superintendent Anne Pemberton and her family at yet another extremely difficult time. During the school board meeting Monday evening, she received a call that her daughter, Elizabeth, had suffered a massive heart attack. Anne is in Austin at her daughter’s side and I know would appreciate the prayers of this community. Close friends of Anne’s at our local hospital are staying in touch and letting others know of any change. At this time she remains in Intensive Care.
* * * * * *
I’m taking a break from my “Guess Who” feature, as you might have noticed. And I didn’t ever let you know who my last person was. It was that sweet lady, Margaret Taber. She and her husband, Jess, have been such assets to our town and county for many years. Thanks to them for being a great example of what families should be.
I appreciate the enthusiasm of our readers over the Guess Who feature. It was fun to do and hopefully helped us get better acquainted with friends. I must admit, however, that the idea for this feature was not my own. Pam Watley, a teacher at Eagle Elementary, started a similar feature in their little school newspaper, and I just borrowed the idea. Thanks, Pam, for letting me copy you.
* * * * * *
I have been wanting to start a new feature which I’ll be calling “Reflections On The Past”. It would feature some of our local citizens, both senior and not-so-senior, who have some great stories and memories from their past. I just have to convince myself that I’m ready to take this new project on.
* * * * * *
Some bits of news from 40 and 30 years ago………
September, 1967 – The new Eagle Field House was dedicated by the Quarterback Club in memory of Craig Thrift, a former Eagle player, who was killed in an auto accident shortly after graduating from VHHS.
A $26 million sulphur operation was announced for Culberson County by Elcor Corp. and should open in late 1968.
Enrollment in the schools increased to 837.
Twenty-four officers and men from White Sands Missile Range were headquartered in Van Horn to search for a Pershing missile which overflew the range and impacted in Mexcico, south of Van Horn and 140 miles SE of Juarez.
September, 1977 — Dr. Ron McMichael was the new superintendent of schools here and open house was held at the new additions at the high school including a new library, Home Economics, Science and Vo Ag departments.
* * * * * *
Some ‘food for thought’………
* I dialed a number and got the following recording: “I am not available right now, but Thank you for caring enough to call. I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a message after the Beep. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes.”
* Aspire to inspire before you expire.
* My wife and I had words, But I didn’t get to use mine.
* Frustration is trying to find your glasses – without your glasses.
* Blessed are those who can give without remembering, and take without forgetting.
* The irony of life is that, by the time you’re old enough to know your way around, you’re not going anywhere.
* God made man before woman so as to give him time to think of an answer for her first question.
* I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.
* Every morning is the dawn of a new error.
* A quote by Jay Leno: “With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the treat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?”
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
September 20th - The Lady Eagle JV girls volleyball team is scheduled to play in Ft. Davis the Tournament today. The Van Horn Eagle 7th grade Junior High team is slated to play Kermit here today beginning at 5 p.m. The 8th grade team is slated to play Ft. Hancock in Ft. Hancock today at 6 p.m. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the firehouse.
September 21st - Nothing scheduled at press time.
September 22nd - The Junior High volleyball teams are scheduled to play in the Sierra Blanca Tournament today. The Lady Eagle JV is slated to be in Ft. Davis today and the varsity is slated to play Balmorhea here today beginning at 1 p.m.
September 23rd - Attend the church of your choice.
September 24th - The Junior High volleyball teams are scheduled to play Marfa here today beginning at 5 p.m. Members of the Van Horn Lions Club are slated to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Sands Restaurant.
September 25th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are scheduled to meet today at noon at Chuy’s. The Lady Eagle volleyball girls are slated to play Ft. Hancock in Ft. Hancock today beginning at 6 p.m.
September 26th - Nothing scheduled at press time.