Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.
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| Breakfast benefits Shelter.... Steve Jackson lines up for pancakes as Suzy King serves and Edna Clark operates the griddle at last Saturday’s benefit for the Van Horn Community Christian Shelter. The trio, all volunteers and board members of the Shelter, helped organize the event to raise money to help keep the Shelter operating. Photo and cutline by Charles Ryan Boisseau |
- Van Horn City Council members, at their meeting Tuesday evening, learned that the Trans-Pecos Big Buck Tournament has had new life breathed into it.
The Tournament, which until last year, had been a real draw to the Van Horn area. The city had been hoping to find someone to work with them to get the event going again. That person has stepped forward and agreed to work with city staffers to bring the event back to life.
Lainie Koch, County Extension agent has agreed to work with Alderwoman Gilda Morales and city staffers to operate the tournament again this year. The event, which brings hunters and their money to town, will be housed at the Convention Center and it will run from November 27th through December 14th.
Flyers detailing specifics about the tournament and entry information have been mailed out according to City Administrator Fran Malafronte.
Another bit of good news coming out of Tuesdays meeting is that the city hopes to help bring new life to the Van Horn Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber, while still operating, has been struggling for several years in an attempt to attract new membership. City Council, in an effort to help the Chamber, has agreed that members of it’s former Main Street Advisory Board should be appointed as members of the Chamber’s board of directors.
Van Horn Main Street directors learned last week that Van Horn has officially been dropped from the Main Street city program. The Main Street board still wants to remain active and help move the city forward, from an economic development stance.
Hence, this effort to have these folks work hand in hand with the Chamber to help get it revitalized.
With regard to other agenda matters which council acted on during the Tuesday meeting, the following actions were taken:
* Council formally approved the 2009 tax roll for collection. The roll amounts to $311,850.43 and was submitted by the Appraisal District.
* Council members learned that they needed to appoint someone as city tax assessor/collector to replace Becky Brewster. Council appointed Fran Malafronte to the position and approved the $10,000 bond required.
* Council revised the resolution they did at their last meeting to not cast ballots for Appraisal District directors but to nominate the directors. Council nominated the current five serving directors.
* As a result of the time change, council members adjusted the hours of operation at the landfill. Now, the landfill hours will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. until noon; Tuesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon and from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.
* Council members learned that the city had received a $20,000 grant from the American Recovery and Re-Investment Act for Energy and Conservation Block grant. They adopted a resolution to accept the grant.
* And, before adjourning the session, they went behind closed doors to review the draft audit, for the town for the fiscal year ending March 31st, as it impacted city staffers.
News Flash!
U.S. Highway 62/180 was closed Wednesday as a result of an oil tanker turner accident at Pine Springs.
TxDOT officials reported that a hazmat team out of El Paso was dispatched to the scene and estimated that the highway would reopen about 8 p.m. last night.
No injuries were reported.
Veterans Day Program
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
9:00 a.m.
High School Auditorium
All Local Veterans Encouraged To Attend