50
Tri-Canyon’s Only Weekly Newspaper! Vol. 9 No. 20
INSIDE Nueces Canyon High School Class of 2018 Commencement ........................... Page 2
............................. Page 7
Real County Historical Commission Meeting
www.hillcountryherald.net
May 16, 2018
editor@hillcountryherald.net
NEW COUNCIL MEMBER SWORN IN FOR CITY OF LEAKEY by Julie Becker
At Monday’s Leakey City Council meeting, following the canvass of the May 5, 2018 General Election, new council member Martin Martinez was sworn in to office. Mayor Harry Schneemann and council member Hazel Pendley were also sworn into office. Next on the agenda was appointment of Mayor Pro Tem. Council member Frankie DeLeon nominated Council member Ken Auld. Auld declined the nomination stating “I’m not always available.” Following some discussion, Hazel Pendley was nominated and an unanimous vote secured the appointment. Minutes and operating statements were approved with little discussion. Bills were paid. Discussion of placing a Speed Bump on East 3rd Street was turned over to local businessman Charlie Reagor by Schneemann. Reagor presented the council with a petition signed by approximately 31 residents of 3rd street, stating they DID NOT want a speed bump. Reagor mentioned the potential damage to vehicles as one reason for the objection to the speed bump. Council member Pendley stated she has had several near miss accidents along with the potential physical injury of speeding vehicles
along the roadway. Council member Martinez stated that the placement of a speed bump on one street would set a precedence for the entire city. He went on to say “If you put one there, everyone in Leakey will come to us wanting one on their street.” Reagor also brought up to the council the lowering of the speed limit on the roadway, stating he believed there must be a study completed before a speed limit can be reduced. Mayor Schneemann stated he was unaware the speed limit had been reduced. City secretary Dee Dee Wally informed the Mayor the 25 MPH signs had been replaced with 15 MPH signs. Council member Roel Gonzalez questioned the sign replacement without council approval. Council member DeLeon motioned to NOT have a speed bump placed and to replace the signs to the original 25 MPH. Motion passed. The last agenda item read Discuss and/or Act on Water Line Upgrade on 1st Street ($8,198) and Cedar Hill Alley. ($17,977.50) Wally stated the auditors requested that the item be addressed during the council meeting, so as to appear in the minutes. The bid was given to Hoover Construction. Motion approved. With no further business the meeting was adjourned.
New Councilmember Martin Martinez
Leakey ISD Seniors Awarded Over $350,000 in Scholarships By Pat Sewell, Counselor
May 10th was Senior Awards Night and Leakey ISD Seniors were awarded over $350,000 in scholarships. With the cost of a four-year degree approaching $100,000 at public universities, scholarships play a vital role in allowing and encouraging students to attend college without amassing large amounts of student debt. Businesses, individuals, and organizations in the Leakey area provided over $190,000 of the scholarships with the remainder from the state, universities, and regional charitable organizations. In addition, Real County residents, Jesse & Betty Luxton, have been instrumental in bringing more scholarships to the students of Leakey ISD. They began granting scholarships to Leakey ISD graduates in 1999. The first year they gave two scholarships worth $4,000 each. As the years passed additional providers contributed to their efforts to provide scholarships for local students. Since 1999, the Luxtons and their partners have awarded $1,339,000 in scholarships to 136 Leakey students.
............................ Page 8
JUST FOR GRINS
............................. Page 11
continued page 7
UPDATE ON RIVER STUDY ............................ Page 11
Uvalde-area Plaintiffs in Water Dispute Against Edwards Aquifer Authority Sharpen Focus of Lawsuit ............................ Page 7
............................ Page 13
INDEX Legals/Jail Register ... . Page 3Community News ......... Page 4-6 Feature Story ................ Page 7 Community Events.........Page 8-9 Obituaries ...................... Page 10 Classifieds ..................... Page 14
Today’s Weather
High: 92° Low: 66°
Biology Study: We finished collecting fish, invertebrate, habitat, water quality, and periphyton data for the entire 26 mile study area in April. Our next steps will be to process samples and analyze data to determine if we see any differences in the habitat and biological community longitudinally and if those differences correlate to sand and gravel permitted areas. If we detect significant differences we will follow up with more intensive sampling on a select number of sites. The riparian
Bull’s Eye Evaluations are almost completed, and should be wrapped up by the end of May. Bald Cypress Study:
by Melissa Parker, River Conservation Program Leader, TPWD
Our Texas Forest Service study partners have kayaked the study area to get an overall perspective on Bald Cypress for refinement of their study parameters. At this time, parameters they are considering for their study include: diameter at breast height (dbh), height, canopy widths, distance from the main stream channel edge, azimuths and distance to reference trees or monuments. They plan to collect GPS coordinates, take photographs, and make a simple damage and health (insects, diseases,
Real County Coffers Over 2 Million The Treasurer’s Report from Monday’s Commissioner’s Court meeting reads: Total Balance of Cash Accounts $2,271,442.63. With invoices due of $93,822.44 and Restricted Funds of $293545.21 Total funds available are $1,884,074.98. This is not including the Emergency Reserves of $1,086.859.75. Several items on the agenda related to spending the funds for taxpayer services. Commissioner Ramon Ybarra brought to the Court a request to purchase a CAT roller. Ybarra stated the
county has secured a substantial amount of road material this past year and is in need of the roller to properly work the road material and county roadways. After some discussion Commissioner Manuel Rubio stated he thought it would be better brought up for the purchase during budget hearings. Sam Peters from Holt CAT services presented several purchase arrangements. To no avail, Commissioners took no action. Ybarra then requested the purchase of pickups for Road Hands for Pct. 1&2 and 3&4.
etc.) assessment. From the age and size measurements, average growth rates will be calculated. They will be seeking locations along the river for data collection, which many of you have already generously granted permission. However, they won’t enter onto your property without notifying you first, so you may be hearing from them or me in the near future if they need access to your property. Age (through increment core sampling) won’t be done without your permission in any instance. continued page 7
by Julie Becker
Discussion regarding vehicles that could be purchase in the Fort Worth area through an auction stalled out, again Commissioner’s took no action. Next up was Real County Sheriff Nathan T. Johnson. Sheriff Johnson requested the court approve a new performance/ training compensation for Deputy Sheriff and Contract Peace Officers. With six levels, starting at $37k for level one and $43k for level six. Johnson explained to the court his desire to have advancement abilities within his Depart-
ment. Johnson stated he did not feel it was fair for an officer straight out of the academy to earn the same salary as a seasoned officer. He based the salary level advancements on officers work history, and continued training to secure Texas Commission on Law Enforcement certifications. He also stated other critical skills and training would be taken into consideration when moving an officer up in the compensation scale. Again Commissioners stated it would be better addressed during budget. No action.