Published in Kimble County since 1882 The Land
Transcription
Published in Kimble County since 1882 The Land
The Junction Eagle Published in Kimble County since 1882 The Land of Living Water Volume 128 USPS 286-540 ©The Junction Eagle, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 NOTICE: Members of the 2009 Junction Baseball Team are, back row, from left, Joe Wood, Tyler Wilson, Bo Samora, Seth Barclay, Jordan Keeton and Ashton Thomas. In the middle row, from left, are David Fuentes, Trevor Brawley, Brayden Schulze, Garrett Murff, Alec Menchaca and Brad Wilcox. Kneeling in the front row, from left, are Dalton Schulze, Austin Dale, Aaron Taylor and Ducie Carrington. Kimble County citizens are encouraged to attend the next town hall meeting, Tuesday, April 21, as this issue is extremely important to our community’s future. You are also invited to send “letters to t he edit or” t o T h e Junction Eagle to share your opinions and concerns about the May 9 bond election regarding the construction of a new county hospital. You may send them anonymously or signed or with your name to be withheld from publication. You are also invited to submit questions that you’d like to have answered by t he Kimble Hospital board or management. 50¢ per copy Number 11 Local law officers make drug bust Kathy Rotge The Junction Eagle While on regular patrol Sunday, March 22, Shannon Conklin, criminal investigator working for the 198th District Attorney’s office, stopped a 2009 Toyota Camery at the intersection of Hwy 290 and IH-10. As Conklin talked with the driver, the passenger slipped into the driver’s seat and fled east on Interstate 10, toward Kerrville, leaving his companion on the side of the highway. A chase ensued, with speeds at times in excess of 120 mph. The vehicle, driven by Charles Michael Ogando, 22, of Houston, wrecked at the 492 mile marker, ejecting the driver. Ogando was taken to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital. Assisting Conklin in the chase was Mike Chapman, another criminal investigator with the 198th District Attorney’s office. Kimble County Sheriff ’s Office deputies and Kerr County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Kerr County DPS officers also assisted in the accident investigation. Arrested was Joseph Bradley Fritts, 23, of Houston. $2,712 and 15 lbs. of hydro marijuana were discovered in the vehicle. PEC settlement robs co-op membership reprinted with permission ital credit rebates to members, The River Cities Daily Tribune not the original $226 million sought by the litigants. Right about now, the PEC has argued it needs all 220,000 members of the those millions to continue Pedernales Electric Coopera- investing in growth, new techtive might be thinking, “We nology and member services. were robbed.” Fair enough. As Dietz said, it is And they would have every important to make sure the right to do so. lights turn on every time a PEC The Texas Third Court of member flips a switch. Appeals decided last week to Yet a quick calculation that uphold a lower court’s decision takes into account directors’ to settle a civil suit against the and advisory directors’ salaries co-op that protects PEC leader- covering the time when the ship from any further legal lawsuit was filed two years ago action. adds up to a hefty sum not reThe appellate court also reaf- invested but squandered by a firmed 250th state District self-indulgent board of direcJudge John Dietz’s decision to tors. award only $23 million in capWhat is also galling is the fact the settlement protects PEC board members who were in power at the time the suit was filed from further civil action. They literally get to walk away, an outrageous proposition at best. In a nutshell, PEC members have been robbed of the right to redress any wrongs in a future civil action against those responsible for questionable or disastrous business practices that plagued the coop for years. These are the same leaders who ran up tremendous expense accounts on Las Vegas shows, lived the high life at fancy restaurants, overpaid themselves tremendously simply by attending a couple of meetings a month, maintained a closed election system that anointed hand-picked successors, invested in subsidiary companies that lost millions and awarded themselves checks from a forgotten bank account because they felt like Kimble County Sheriff Hilario Cantu (left) and 198th they were doing a good job. District Attorney criminal investigator Mike Chapman pose PEC would say any further with the marijuana seized during a local traffic stop. civil action could result in the members themselves having to pony up for more legal fees and damages. The members who were looking for closure, for atonement, for justice, will have to by Jimmy Kistler The Board then authorized look elsewhere. But not in civil The Junction Eagle the expenditure of up to $40,000 on a new Picture See PEC on Page 15 The Kimble County Archiving and Communication Hospital Board met in special System (PACS). This system session, Tuesday, March 17, at eliminates the need for a dark 6 p.m. in the conference room room to process X-Rays, proof Kimble Hospital. ducing a high quality digital The primary purpose of the image that can be printed or action on a $750 marketing creation of a tourism board request from the Committee comprised of community lead- meeting was to discuss and transmitted electronically. The money will be used for for a Healthy Kimble County, ers to accomplish not only an consider the selection of a financial advisor to assist the a matching grant of $40,000 to a committee formed to pro- efficient tourism strategy but Hospital District with the sale purchase the $80,000 equipmote the passing of the May also create a positive flow of of bonds for the construction ment. 2009 bond vote to build a new communication. A JTEDC The Board then considered a hospital. The JTEDC is not Board member was asked to of a new hospital should the bond pass the upcoming elecrequest from the Kimble allowed by law to expend pub- serve on the tourism board. tion on May 9, 2009. Appraisal District to keep the lic funds for political purposes. Other JTEDC Board Jennifer Douglas and Vince District’s excess funds remainAn amendment to the 2006 Meeting Highlights: Viaille, of Specialized Public ing from the 2008 budget to Ad-Venturous grant repayment • Plans are underway for a Finance, Inc. (SPF), gave the help pay for upgrading their contract was approved by the farmer’s market to begin in board a presentation on the computers and purchasing Board allowing the monthly May at the City Park Pavilion services they provide for bond software. The Board voted to payment terms to be adjusted. to offer fresh produce, crafts, sales. Many different options approve the request. Total repayment of the flea market items, etc. were discussed, with the The Board held a lengthy $40,545 grant is expected Junction is partnering with notion that the most cost effec- discussion on strategies for the January 2010. London’s Community Associtive for the Hospital District at upcoming hospital bond elecJTEDC Board Member ation in this endeavor. Each the time of the sale would be tion. The most immediate Shannon Bynum, City executed. issue was the next public Alderman, discussed the City’s See JTEDC on Page 15 Viaille noted that SPF’s fee meeting, to be held March 24. for the sale of $17 million in The meeting format and spebonds would be approximately cific issues to address were $40,000. Fees are contingent considered. The Board agreed on the Hospital District receiv- to meet Monday, March 23, to ing the money from bond finalize their plans. sales. The last issue on the agenda The Board asked if the cur- was an update on hospital rent economic situation would operation from Preferred have an adverse effect on the Management. A decision had ability to sell the bonds. been made to replace a failed Douglas and Viaille noted that air conditioning unit at the tax free municipal bonds hospital for a cost of $40,000. would be in demand because Board members stated that of their stability. They also they had received some comstated that the District’s timing plaints about hospital billing. would put them in an advanta- Preferred admitted that billing geous position concerning had been one of their biggest construction costs. problems to solve at the hospiAfter Douglas and Viaille tal. They stated that any probhad left, the Board voted to lems should be brought to enter into a contract with SPF their attention, and they would contingent on a successful work to resolve any questions. bond election and pending All business being concontract review by the cluded, the meeting was Proud father Ted Sandlin (left) and Junction High School District’s bond counsel. adjourned. Principal Wheeler Hanks (right) are on hand to announce that senior Cole Sandlin will be playing football next year The ANGel Classic Memorial Softball for the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. The Cru was ranked 3rd nationally for Division III schools. Head Coach Tournament will be held on June 12 Cory Spivey noted that, “This is a great honor. I’m very and 13, the second weekend in June, proud of Cole’s accomplishments and excited about his rather than the first weekend in June. future.” Cole looks pretty happy himself! Congratulations! JTEDC begins review process for “beautification” grants by Patricia Whitty The Junction Texas Economic Development Corporation’s (JTEDC) Board agreed at its March 19 called meeting to begin the 60-day public review and hearing process for the following three Main Street Beautification “exterior paint” grant applications: Masonic Lodge, Designs by Darla and Rite-A-Way. After the 60-day period, the Board will request approval from City Council before moving forward to fund the grant requests. Anyone with comments regarding the exterior paint applications may appear in person at the April 2 JTEDC Board meeting and/or send a letter by April 1 to the JTEDC office, 730 Main St., Junction, Texas 76849. As of Feb. 28, 2009, the JTEDC currently has a fund balance of $420,197. Of this amount, $210,941, has been committed for the City Park Improvement Project and City of Junction Disc Golf Project, leaving an available funds balance of $209,256. If anyone has questions about applying for a grant, loan guarantee, loan subsidy or micro-loan, please contact Whitty at 325446-3402. The Board did not take any Coach T.W. Wellmann leaves little doubt as to what course of action he has in mind. Junior Morgan Wellmann shows no sign of hesitation as she rounds first in stride on her way to second base. Hospital Board considers financial advisor Page 2 The Junction Eagle, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Meanderings by Frederica Wyatt The arrival of Spring has brought forth hues of green to mingle with the blossoms of Mountain Laurel, Redbud, and other native vegetation. An inspiring sight this early Monday morning was the multi-lighted "J" on the western hills. Condolences are extended to the family of Bill Whitworth, who passed away last week. He was the son of the late Walton W. and Pat Stapp Whitworth. Bill's wife, Wanda, his daughter, and a sister, Patricia Borland, are among his survivors. Graveside services were held Saturday afternoon in the Junction Cemetery. Sympathy goes, also, to the family of Hilda Rivas, who was laid to rest Saturday morning in the Junction Cemetery. Kimble County Historical Commission has been notified it is among the Texas historical organizations to receive a Distinguished Service Award for outstanding preservation work accomplished in 2008. A presentation will be made by the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission during the annual Preservation Conference to be held April 16 in Lakeway, Texas. Bill Grimes and his sister, Kathy Grimes Wilmuth, spent last week in Junction to settle the estate of their aunt, the late Mary Herbert Burt, who passed away last May. Bill is a military officer now stationed near Atlanta, Georgia. He has seen several tours of duty in Iraq. Kathy and her family live in Dobson, North Carolina, while Bill's and Kathy's mom, Cary Herbert Grimes, is a resident of Mount Airy, North Carolina (known as Mayberry, USA, the boyhood home of Andy Griffith.) Saturday's trip to Seven MG Hundred Springs was definitely a success. Groups from many locales were in Junction for the event, and we met new friends and visited with several acquaintances. One very interested (and interesting) person was Hal Baylor of San Antonio, now ninety-six years of age. Saturday was his first return trip to the Springs in eighty-three years. He recalled many boyhood events when his family lived nearby. He and his sister attended the Deats School. The teacher at that time was Daisy Dean Johnston, a great-great-granddaughter of General Albert Sidney Johnston. Hal was a close chum of the late Lacy Fleming, and they rode horseback together while attending school. W. F. Roberts was Hal's favorite proprietor of Telegraph. Bette Pfluger White and her sister, Amy, and the latter's fiance met us at the Springs. Bette brought along her four delightful children - Maggi, Coleman, Adilee, and Anne. Cindy Ivy of Hondo attended with her husband, our Chief of Police Marvin Ivy. Cindy is a C.P.A., and one of her employees is Tammy Smith Cook, formerly of Junction. Among others whom I met for the first time were Patrick and Cheryl Gorman, Donna Cochrum, and Walter and Susan Curry. In one of the groups from San Angelo was former Junctionite Sharon Rimes McDonough, who was accompanied by June Doerr and Deta Terrill. The largest delegation was from Llano. Jan Standish of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, traveled the farthest to see the renowned Springs. Some of the other locales represented were the cities of Posh, Boerne, Houston, San BUILDING MATERIALS INC. For sale 8-year-old mare for sale. 4 mo. bred. Gentle, dark brown color, white face. $1,000 OBO. 325-446-2012C-11-1P MAG Materials Granite Gravel Office: 325-251-6684 Cells: 325-456-6979 or 325-456-9049 All your Building Needs 2202 MEMORIAL BLVD. KERRVILLE, TEXAS 78028 830- 257-2300 FAX 830-792-3828 M-32-TFN-C Antonio, El Paso, Spicewood, Kingsland, Waco, Lubbock, Odessa, San Saba, Pontotoc, Junction, Roosevelt, and Yates. I was pleased that Joshua Mogford wants to use the history of the Springs as a part of his credit for a Communications merit badge. Jerry Beamsley, who had visited Kimble Historical Museum earlier in the week, made a second visit to the Springs, as he had been in the motorcade last year. Thanks, Jerry, for the delicious citrus fruit brought from McAllen. Ginger Boerm Andrews and her sons, Joey and Jeffrey, were kind to drive me to the Springs and then to Rocksprings, where we were joined by Billie Fox Noguess. The Andrews clan and I made a cross-country tour along the old Junction road, where we saw the "lakes" that form the headwaters of the South Llano River. It had been a number of years since I had traveled that way, and once or twice, I feared we had strayed from the course. Fortunately, we arrived at the right place and made our way home after an enjoyable day of seeing historical points of interest. Among the pleasant voices I heard when my phone rang during the week was that of Bill Durbon of Ingram. He reported Gerry is doing fine, and he is busy with income tax work. I also enjoyed a pleas- Pick up or Delivery We have Belly Dumps & Bobtails Great for Roads, Landscaping & Foundation Pads M-39-tfnc Worship With Us FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 202 South 8th Street 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School 10:55 a.m. - Morning Worship 6 p.m. - Evening Worship Ken Bolton, Pastor FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 904 Main Street 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School 10:55 a.m. - Morning Worship Glenna Kelley, Pastor FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 201 S. 11th Street 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School 11 a.m. - Morning Worship Rev. Jim Barker Co-Pastor Laurie Barker COLLEGE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 815 College Street 10 a.m. - Bible Study - Sunday 11 a.m. - Church Worship 6:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Justin Hall, Minister NORTHSIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST 238 North 15th Street 10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Preachers: Dale Cowell & Lee Roy Loeffler ST. THERESA CATHOLIC CHURCH 114 South 7th Street 11:15 a.m. - Sunday Morning English/Spanish The Rev. Michael Udegbunam Deacon Tim Graham CEDAR HILL CHURCH OF CHRIST 11 a.m. - Sunday Morning IVY CHAPEL 3rd Sunday of each month 7 p.m. LONDON CHURCH OF CHRIST U.S. Highway 377 10 a.m. - Bible Study 11 a.m. - Worship 6 p.m. Wednesday Bible Class FULL GOSPEL CHURCH 202 North 15th Street 10 a.m. - Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. - Sunday School 7 p.m. - Evening Worship 7 p.m. Wednesday Worship Rev. Donna Carroll LONDON METHODIST CHURCH 9 a.m. - Sunday Service Glenna Kelley, Pastor FIRST PENTECOSTAL CHURCH East Pine Street 2 pm Sunday HILL COUNTRY BAPTIST CHURCH 322 South 11th Street 10 a.m. - Sunday School 11 a.m. - Sunday Morning 6 p.m. - Sunday Evening Wednesday 6:30 p.m. - Adult Bible Study 6:30 p.m. - Youth & Kidz Club Lyle Wallace, Pastor CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 1209 College Street 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School 10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1119 Main Street 11 a.m. - Morning Worship Rev. Jim Sproat GOODWILL BAPTIST CHURCH 1201 North Llano 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School 11 a.m. - Morning Worship 6 p.m. - Evening Worship Rev. Gregory Gomez MURR CHURCH OF CHRIST 11 a.m. - Sunday Morning Davis Murr, Preacher MEN’S BIBLE CLASS 100 Blk. North 16th Street 8:50 a.m. Sunday Morning Broadcast live at 9 a.m. TRUTH TABERNACLE 102 North 10th Street 10 a.m. - Saturday Morning 7 p.m. - Saturday Evening 7 p.m. - Wednesday Evening Prayer: 1 hour before services Rena B. Sue, Pastor HILL COUNTRY COWBOY CHURCH 2nd and 4th Monday each month HC Fairgrounds (sale ring) 7 p.m. Rusty Felts (325) 347-6496 OUTREACH GOSPEL OF CHRIST 602 S. Llano Praise & worship, Sundays, 6 p.m. Sunday evenings, 7 p.m. Pastor Glenda Carroll LONDON BAPTIST CHURCH 212 Llano Street 10 a.m. - Sunday School 11 a.m. - Morning Worship 1 p.m. - Afternoon Worship 7 p.m. - Wed. Evening Service Dan Wynn, Pastor The following merchants and individuals urge you to attend your chosen house of worship this Sabbath: Junction National Bank The Brand Name In Kimble County Banking Member FDIC 446-2531 Paul and Debbie Bierschwale 517 College - 446-3052 B&JNB-x-TFC ant chat with Billy Ivy of London. On Thursday, I chanced to see Vivian Joy from out Roosevelt way. She was interested to learn of the Joy family reunion to be held in late April in Phoenix, Arizona. Jan Robbins dropped by the museum with several historical documents she hopes to preserve. Several other friends came our way, including Tommy Randle and Gaylan Harrison. Gaylan attended Friday evening's meeting of the Hill Country Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp in Kerrville and presented a fifty-year membership pin to Joe Ginn of Fredericksburg. Recently, Tommy Randle brought by a picture of Jacob "Jake" Dagen, and he had no idea how far-reaching his act of kindness would become. I mailed a copy of the picture to Charles Byrd of Austin, who is compiling a history of Stockdale, Texas. In turn, Charles sent a copy of the picture to Barbara Nance Cope (who had sent me some VanDorn history several years ago, as she is a direct descendant of Martha Groodbread and General Earl Van Dorn). Barbara forwarded a copy to one of her relatives, Larry Deagen of Rice, who is busily researching his roots. Larry was ecstatic, as he had never seen a picture of that ancestor. Larry is kin to the Kimble County Dagen family, whose forebears apparently used more than one spelling of the surname. Until next week.... ©2009 The Junction Eagle All rights reserved. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher. LETTERS POLICY The Junction Eagle welcomes letters from its readers. Letters should be to the point, typed if at all possible, and signed. An address and telephone number should be included for verification purposes. Most letters will be published with the author’s name. Letters will be printed on a space-available basis. Letters should stick with issues, and not be personal attacks. Letters endorsing a particular position on issues of local interest will be accepted; however, letters endorsing a candidate for political office will not be printed. We reserve the right to edit for length, content and potentially libelous statements. We also reserve the right to withhold any author’s identity. Letters to the Editor published in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication on any subject. The Junction Eagle 215 N. 6th - 446-2610 Correspondence should be mailed to: Letters to the Editor, 215 N. 6th St., Junction, Texas 76849 or debbie@junctioneagle. com. Kimble County Golf News by Ruth James ‘Tis said "Water holes are sacrificial waters where you make a steady gift of your pride and high priced golf balls". Many of us would agree that hole no. 5 fits this description. But Mark Maples says it is his favorite hole. Mark is one of those go-to guys when the golf course needs help. He has served as president three times for a total of nine years, plays nearly every week, though he has found it hard to get to golfing this year. He is district manager of West Texas Gas so has to find free time for golf. He has a son Allen who likes golf too, not sure if no. 5 is Allen's favorite hole or not. But I can't leave old no. 5 without remembering that I saw Betty Fife hit across that creek, land on the green and roll into the cup. That's fun golf. We have other "sacrificial waters" on the course. You have to come back across that creek on no. eight, and then there's nos. three and four. No. three is a dog-leg; hit a pretty tee shot, and your second one will almost surely roll right into that man-made lake at the bottom of the hill. Hit a good tee shot on no. four that fades just a mite, and you'll bounce right into that water. My husband, Buck, was so anti about putting a water hole there that for a time it was known as "James Pond". We've had the first Thursday Scramble of the new season; the winners (and these names came straight from the score cards) were Art, James, Scotty, and BooCoo. There’s a new scramble every Thursday so come on out; you'll have fun and might not ever sacrifice a single ball. Book Review By Rosanna Stapp “I Am My Brother’s Keeper” Journal of a Gunny in Iraq by Gy Sgt Jason K. Doran, USMC (Ret.) Jason Doran has been stationed in the Philippines, the First Gulf War, Kuwait, recruiting duty, Africa and various other bases. His last assignment before retirement was to go to Iraq. This is the story from when he first left in January of 2003 until he came home in June 2003. It covers the ship ride over there, what they did in Iraq, and the ship ride back. This is written in diary form and is very interesting. It gives a first-hand account of what happened and what didn’t occur. It makes you appreciate what our military is doing in Iraq. There is a lot of bad language. Happy Birthday March 26 Charles E. Wilson James Everett Sivells Roxanne Heppner Fargason March 27 Daniel Barrera Carlos A. Zuniga Brandy L. Sparks Lanette Matetzschk Murr Jo Lacey Lawler March 28 Cody Diego Collins William E. Patton David Vasquez Irene Alvarado Diana Lee Granberry Teresa L. Wilton James Elmo Lumpkins Frances McDonald Luchini Tiffanie Deanne Rios Kathryn Sue Powell Denzil Harper Sanders March 29 Rodney Dale Coursey Dwight Davis Curtis Franklin Thomas Travis Edgar Warren March 30 Raymond R. Jones Rose Myers Millard Leon Bennett Walter Lee Hall Zane Gardner Holland Odvia Maria Rodriguez William R. Rose Daniel Rodriguez March 31 Eric G. Sitler Michael Ray Sublett Olive Mueschke Furen Doris Johnston Jacoby John Michael Mogford Flo Lombrana April 1 Emma Gonzales Lee Wayne Modgling Thomas Lee Warden Jose Alfredo Salinas Shirley Murr Subscribe to The Junction Eagle! 325-446-2610 The Junction Eagle (ESTABLISHED 1882) 215 NORTH 6TH STREET JUNCTION, TEXAS 76849 Published each Wednesday USPS 286-540 PHONE: 325/446-2610 FAX: 325/446-4025 editor@junctioneagle.com Periodical postage paid at Junction,Texas 76849 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes Form 3579 to The Junction Eagle, 215 N. 6th St., Junction, Texas 76849 SUBSCRIPTIONS IN ADVANCE FOR 1 YEAR: Kimble & adjoining counties ...................................$20.00 Elsewhere in Texas ..................................................$23.00 Out of State ..............................................................$25.00 ADVERTISING RATES: Classified 30¢ per word. ($3.00 Minimum per insertion) Display & Display Classifieds $4.00 per column inch (in county). Display & Display Classifieds $5.00 per column inch (out of county). OWNERS - Jim and Debbie Cooper Kistler PUBLISHER & EDITOR - Debbie Cooper Kistler PROOFREADER, REPORTER - Sarah Harrison LAYOUT & PRODUCTION - Kathy Rotge, Asia McCallister, Debbie Kistler and Jim Kistler SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Frederica Wyatt, John Parker, Rosanna Stapp, Claudette Primeaux, Kristi Hull, Mike Cox, Jim Kistler, Kendal Hemphill, Sylvia Lawler, Renee Schulze, Ruth James, Ginger Boerm Andrews, Russell Kott, Marvin Ivy, Linda Tarrant, Nancy Smith and Don Knotts. MEMBER 2009 TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION Obituaries The Junction Eagle, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 A message from Chief Marvin Ivy Bill Whitworth Bill Whitworth, 87, passed away at Amistad Nursing Home in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. Graveside funeral services were held at 2 p.m., in the Junction City Cemetery, in Junction, Texas, on Saturday, March 21, 2009. Survivors include his wife, Wanda Whitworth; one daughter, Sue Shanklin and one sister, Patricia Borland. Services were entrusted to Gentry-Fife Funeral Home of Junction. Hilda Rivas Hilda Rivas, age 24, passed away at Kimble Hospital in Junction, Texas, on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. A rosary was held at 7 p.m. at Gentry-Fife Funeral Home, in Junction on Friday, March 20. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. in the St. Theresa Catholic Church on Saturday, March 21. Interment followed at the Junction Cemetery. Survivors include her father, Louis Rivas, Sr.; stepfather, Juan Rodriguez; her mother, Hilda Rivas; one son, Eliseo Rivas, three daughters, Maria Isabel Rivas, Abegail Rivas and Diana Marie Rivas and two sisters, Mary Ann Rivas and Luisa Rivas. Services were entrusted to Gentry-Fife Funeral Home of Junction. Meridel S. Solbrig Meridel S. Solbrig passed away Saturday, March 21, at the age of 66. She is survived by one son, Matthew Best and wife, Lisa, of Houston; one sister, Margaret Solbrig, of Fredericksburg; one granddaughter, Amber Best, of Houston and one nephew, Sean Davis, of San Angelo. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 28, at 10:30 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. A reception will follow in Zion Fellowship Hall. Online condolences may be left at www.fredericksburgfunerals.com. Arrangements under the direction of Fredericksburg Funeral Home. Page 3 Officer Canales asked that I again write about addresses on homes and buildings. He has a point. Some of you did help us out by adding numbers on mailboxes or the front of your homes and buildings. Many of you planned to do so and it slipped your minds. Unfortunately, some of you only placed numbers on one side of your mailbox. So let me tell you what we need again from our viewpoint. By us, I mean fire, ambulance and law enforcement. We all represent the emergency services that may need to find your home or business in a hurry when seconds count. Throw in water, gas, electrical, UPS and cable employees who also need to know which house is yours, and you can see part of the scope of our problem. The final icing on the cake would include the out-of-town relatives and guests who are looking for your home. Well, maybe you don’t want “them” to find you after all. Take pity on the rest of us. We do need to be able to distinguish between your home and your neighbors. We don’t always drive down the street like we are delivering mail. Sometimes we are looking for an address on the left side of the street and many of you have been careful to place addresses so that they can be viewed only by drivers approaching on your side of the street. If you are waiting for the police to get to your house in an emergency, you don’t want to see them drive by, get to the end of the block and come back down on your side of the street, so they can tell which house is yours. You want that fire truck and ambulance to pull right in front of your house, no matter which direction they approach from. There are some other locations that can use an address. If you have raised curbs in front of your house, they are a good visible location for a house number. The equipment needed to do that usually involves stencils and masonry paint, and a couple of steps in the process. If we ever get the public safety Explorer program started, that will be a fundraiser/public safety project they can usually tackle. Another very popular location for house numbers is on the house! Try to make it a contrast with the background. Maybe use dark numerals on a white background. Make it large enough to be seen easily from the street. The further back from the street your home sits, the larger the numerals need to be. Think about how your house looks at night. If you have a porch light you leave on, putting the numerals near that light would be effective. We have spotlights on emergency equipment, but don’t like to spotlight homes at night just to locate addresses. If you have a small yard light sitting in the yard, that may be a good location also. If you have a gate leading to your property, mark the entrance with your address. As much trouble as we have in the city, it is usually even worse out in the country. Many of us live in the country for our privacy, and putting our address on the gate seems to fly in the face of privacy, but security trumps privacy in this matter. On a final note on this subject, I saw a house last week that faced a particular street, had the driveway on that same side street and yet showed an address for a better known street of which it sat on the corner. In larger towns where you have building inspectors and planning and zoning rules, you wouldn’t be allowed to add to the confusion by misusing an address in this manner. When you fail to address your home correctly, you not only delay response times to your emergency, but also to your neighbor’s emergency. Do your part to help speed our response times. On Friday we will be selling five-six old clunkers that drivers abandoned here over the last year. The sale will follow directly after the Sheriff’s sale. This is a shameless plug for the sale which is advertised elsewhere in this week’s paper. Take care, and pray for rain Letter to the Editor The company that built the Hondo Hospital is Huser Construction from Kerrville. I found that in most hospital construction and renovation done by them in Hondo, Kerrville, and Fredericksburg the cost was between $204 and $221 per sq. ft. These were all done in the past year. Clinic space is even cheaper at $185. Renovation cost is lower at $49 to $70 a sq.ft. If we built the new hospital here at these prices, the cost would be about $9 million. The estimate that Preferred Management Company is proposing is at $400 a sq.ft. The website for Huser is www.huserco.com. Since the decision of whether or not to build a new hospital is so important to the citizens of Kimble County, and has such long-term consequences for local residents, it is imperative that voters are given the opportunity to make informed choices. To that end, The Junction Eagle is inviting Kimble County taxpayers to weigh-in on the proposal. Because some folks are hesitant to be published, the Eagle staff will withhold the names of “Letters to the Editor” authors (if requested). We believe this proposed project deserves a community dialogue and will provide space in this newspaper for readers to voice their opinions, pro or con. Should we build a costly new medical facility to replace the current hospital complex, or do we patch the old building until it can not pass code, is closed and we no longer have a hospital in Junction? What are your opinions, thoughts and concerns, Junction? Fine arts group working on their second annual art show and sale by Judy H. Uherek Spring has sprung; the grass is turning green, and it is time to mark your calendars now for the first weekend in May and the FAAHC’s art show and sale! Last year’s event was received so enthusiastically that many are already hard at work to insure that you enjoy this year’s event just as much. The location this year is at the new M~Squared Gallery which is located on the northeast corner of Mason’s historic square. Tickets to the Friday night, May 1, Gala will be available for sale at the Mason Chamber of Commerce office beginning April 1. The charge will be $10. The show will also be open during the day on Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and May 3. The day time hours are free to the public. The members of the Fine Arts Association of the Hill Country invite residents of Kimble, Mason, Menard and McCulloch counties to join their group. You don’t have to be an artist as the fine arts include many venues. Art, drama, jewelry, music, photography and pottery are all represented in the current membership. Plus, those that just enjoy the variety of programs, want to lend a helping hand where needed and/or simply be a Patron are also represented. Dues are $25 per year. We hope to see you at the May 1 Gala. It promises to be a lively evening! You’ve tried the rest, now try the best Straight Line Fencing Free Estimates Commercial Residential Game Fencing Armando Hernandez, Sr. Home: 325-396-2756 325-456-8497 Menard, TX S-8-4c R-11-1p Engagement Announcement Tommy and Candy Eckert of Mason are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their son, Kody Kurtis Eckert, to Jaclyn Diane Fogg, daughter of Danny and Diana Fogg of Corpus Christi. Jacki is a graduate of Calallen High School and is employed at Capital Farm Credit in Mason. Kody is a graduate of Mason High School and is employed by the 198th Judicial District. Kody is the grandson of Curtis and Dusty Henderson of Junction. The couple will be married April 25, 2009, at the Marquardt Ranch in Boerne, and will make their home in Mason. A Special Thank You to all of you who prayed endlessly for our daughter Madisyn Sky. The Power of Prayer is so real, and your prayers healed our baby and sent her home one week before ever expected. She's doing well, thanks to all you Prayer Warriors. We're truly blessed and grateful to each and every one of you! Thank you with all of our hearts! What a wonderful community we live in! God is Good! Thanks and God Bless! Heidi and Willard Crenwelge W-11-1c Ck Flowers C-11-2c Your One Stop Supplier For Metal Buildings 1-800-268-8378 Junction, Tx 76849 Kimble County Ready Mix M-42-TFNC Certified Senior Advisor (830) 895-4477 with Over 25 years experience helping Hill Country seniors. 1208 Bandera Hwy., Kerrville, TX 78028 steven@betterconsumerchoices.com H-10-2p Land Surveying Paul Bushong 106 Glen Lakes Ct., Ingram, Texas 78025 Bedding Plants (325) 446-2543 P.O. Box 364 Call Steve Henley, Ranches - Estates - Subdivisions Organic grown 421 Hickory 325-446-3626 Questions about Medicare Insurance Products & Long Term Care Insurance? 830-367-7302 Fresh Produce Herbs INSURANCE FOR SENIORS Ready Mix Concrete We Deliver (325) 446 2546 Only a fool knows everything. A wise man knows how little he knows. RDK R.D Kothmann Insurance All lines of coverage available Judy Gardner 1701 Main St. G-14-tfnc 325-446-2320 Looking Back ... The way we were Page 4 The Junction Eagle, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 First State Bank brought to you courtesy of 2002 Main P.O. Box 105 Phone: 325-446-3391 Fax: 325-446-4026 www.fsbjunction.com 3-27-69 3-27-69 horses 3-27-69 3-29-79 3-27-69 3-31-99 3-30-89 Thank you to First State Bank for sponsoring the “Looking Back” page each week. The Junction Eagle, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Ivy Echoes by Ginger Boerm Andrews Orlan Stewart had agreed to teach school at London during the Fall of 1942, but when Mr. Probst came to see him about teaching at Long Mountain and offered him $115 for an eight month contract, he changed his mind. He went immediately to see Raymond Pearl and Ray Clapp about resigning his teaching job at London, leased his farm in the Red Creek Community out for one year to Mr. Wootton for SMALL TOWN $150 and began preparing for the big move. He had only a couple of weeks to get moved and settled in before school would start. What he and Katie couldn’t take with them, they hauled to his parents’ house or sold to neighbors. Mary Cummins came by and bought a dozen fruit jars and Bob McKinney bought twenty seven of their chickens. In order to capture all of the chickens, Orlan first built two BY KRISTI HULL “My company had these T-shirts made to promote its new pension plan.” chicken pens. When it came to the actual catching of the chickens, he began to solicit help from anyone who happened to stop by. Ernest Summers, Pleasant (Ples) Hicks, Mr. Clark and Mr. Wootton are just some of the ones who got in on the chickencatching act which lasted over a period of several days and at times continued well into the night. Dan Summers agreed to take care of their 142 lb. pig until they had a pen built or were ready to butcher it. Orlan hired Mr. Wootton and his son, Pat, along with Ples Hicks to help him move. They loaded up everything into a wagon and hauled it to Long Mountain, including a milk cow and calf. The teacherage there had once been the Leon Schoolhouse which had been moved from its original place in Menard County. Long Mountain School is located between London and Mason, near Erna…a little community where James Johnson had a store selling groceries and gasoline. Orlan used his first gas ration stamp there on December 4, 1942, purchasing three gallons of gas. He bought five bales of hay at 50 cents a bale from James’ son, Nathaniel Johnson, whose children attended the Long Mountain school. Johnson descendants still live in the Erna Community, today. Katie cleaned on the teacherage and worked hard getting things put away. Orlan built a cow pen and cow shed. He fixed the gate that went into Mr. John Ralston’s pasture and paid Mr. Ralston $1 for pasturage for his cows at 75 cents a month. He built a new chicken coop and dug up a stump in the front yard, repaired the front screen door, put up a new door to the middle room and drove his car inside the little car shed. He and Katie took time off to take a walk in Mr. Ralston’s pas- Page 5 My Opinion by John Parker Orlan and Katie ture, surveying the land around their new home. There was a lot of work to do to get ready for the upcoming school year. Orlan began cleaning the schoolhouse, mopping, sweeping and oiling the floors and getting ready for the first day of classes. Marie Peterman and Doris Johnson would also be teaching along with him. On Monday, September 7, at 9 a.m., school started. There were 25 pupils in all. Six of those were in the 9th, 10th and 11th grades. The Probst boy and Orlan cleaned out the cistern that afternoon and discovered that it needed some work done on it so he hired some men to come fix it. Later on, Orlan and Mr. Ferdinand Hahn plastered rat holes in the walls of the school. Wood was chopped and stacked in preparation for cold weather, as there were two large wood stoves inside the school building. Lillian Vater of Mason, supervisor for the school lunches, came by to see Orlan about serving lunches at the school. On Thursday, September 17, Orlan took his Biology and science classes to Leon Creek in the afternoon and got some water insects to study. Orlan repaired the tennis back-stop, and on April 2, 1943, the London tennis boys came in the afternoon and played the Long Mountain boys, singles and doubles. London won. On April 3rd, Mr. Louis Hahn, Mr. Will Eckert and Orlan held a trustee election, and 18 persons voted. Ed Ralston was elected trustee. In January of 1943 a cold “Norther” blew in that iced everything over. It was so cold that the eggs they had inside their house froze solid. Every single day Orlan hauled a huge barrel of water from Mr. Felix Hahn’s for their cleaning and bathing water and to water the animals. Besides all of the daily chores Orlan spent a great deal of time at Community Council meetings that were also held at the School. Fun times were had on Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Katie baked cookies and put together little gifts for all of the students. On April Fool’s Day, some of the older boys tried to “ransack” Orlan’s car shed and wash building but didn’t succeed. The end of the year picnic was on April 27, 1943. A couple of days prior to that, Mr. Eckert came by and told Orlan they wouldn’t be rehiring him for the next year. Orlan got a job in Kingsbury, Texas, teaching school in September of 1943. He passed away November 19, 1943. A copy of Orlan’s diary entries from 1935, and 19411943 will be at the Kimble Museum, if anyone would like to read more. He mentions over a hundred people’s names that lived in the area during that time. Death and taxes? This has been a “saying” for as long as I can remember. The two are the certainties we seem to be unable to avoid. The first, certain for living beings and the second certain to be expected from any sort of government. Here in our nation a sort of a slimy sort of tax, the income tax, was born and has evolved as a way of life. The legislature tweaks it every year or so and adds (but it seems, never subtracts) pages and pages to the file of ways, means, methods and things that are taxed under the guise of “the law”. Over the years the percentage of income, the amount of income, and the advantages to the government are built up, broken down and wording finely dissected to what they call “in the interest of fairness and clarity”. Woops! Fair to whom and clear to whom? In recent years a lot of people who really don’t care for how those mounds of books full of instructions are inflated but never deflated. They are called government. The past number of years has generated a couple of novel ideas of how that government can wrest the needed dollars to “run” that government. One is called the flat tax and the other the fair tax. Both have many adherents. I’m no expert, but I think the flat one is a percentage (to be calculated) which will be the same for everyone, the fair one is a consumption tax, rather like today's sales tax. (I hope I don’t have those backwards.) Whatever! In any case no one in government seems to care for either one. Makes you wonder if they would not care for that many people, from the IRS, to suddenly appear on the out-of-work list. Garrett “Dead Eye” Frazier, nine-year-old son of Chuck and Pat Frazier of Rosenburg, Texas, killed this axis on Wednesday, March 18, with his .223 Remington rifle. The axis was scored by Jeff Zion of Eagle Eye Taxidermy and received a score of 138 6/8 on the Records of Exotics putting Garrett 65th in the state. Nationally recognized artists to take part in Junction Summer Art program submitted Several nationally known artists will be the highlight of the Summer Art Education Program at Texas Tech University Center at Junction this year. Funds from the College of Outreach and Distance Education and the College of Visual and Performing Arts will allow Helen Klebesadel, a watercolorist; Jamie Dominguez, known for his work using indigenous firing methods; and several others to attend summer sessions as guest artists and teachers. Future Akins-Tillett, coordinator for the Master of Art Education program, said that the attendance of nationally recognized artists to the summer program is invaluable to both students and the program itself. “Junction is a unique environment of intensity and focus,” Akins-Tillett said. “It is a community of artistic and scholarly practice. These artists will bring national attention to both the location and the program.” Akins-Tillett said that the experience will be beneficial to students because it will allow them to have more diverse viewpoints for criticism while allowing them to observe the working style of master artists. Alumni from the Master of Art Education program have been invited for a long weekend at TTU Center at Junction June 11-14 to take part in a discussion on balancing leadership, artistic practice and family obligations. “We hope to initiate dialogue across disciplines and careers,” Akins-Tillett said of the decision to invite both professional artists and alumni to summer events. Interested students can enroll in studio-based courses during the summers at Junction for personal enrichment or in pursuit of a Master of Art Education. The format of the Master of Art Education program is unique because it is the only program in Texas that combines online instruction during the fall and spring semesters and face-to-face studio coursework during the summers in Junction. For details, visit www.de.ttu.edu/taea. W.W. CONSTRUCTION AND FENCING METAL BUILDINGS ~ BARNS ~ CARPORTS ENTRANCES ~ GATES ~ CATTLEGUARDS FENCE BUILDING ~ CONCRETE SLABS Willard Crenwelge W-3-tfnc PIPE 325-446-4282 or 325-260-5647 for sale Page 6 The Junction Eagle, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Tours start soon at Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area submitted The Devil's Sinkhole Society announces the inauguration of twice-monthly hiking tours at the Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area. The hikes will take place the first and third Saturdays starting this April 4. The evening bat tour season begins Friday, May 1. This will be the eighth year the volunteers of the Devil's Sinkhole Society will provide this tour. Information about both tours is available by calling 830683-BATS or going on-line to www.devilssinkhole.org. Reservations are needed for the hikes which will begin at the Rocksprings Visitors Center on the Rocksprings town square at about 10 a.m. There are three hiking trails that each require about one hour of walking. Combinations of hikes can be made according with approval of the hiking guides. Reservations are also needed for the bat tours, though walk-ins can usually be accomodated. The bat tours are held Wednesdays-Sundays from May 1 through mid- October. Bat tours begin at the Rocksprings Visitors Center around 6:30 p.m. depending on when the bats start flying. Hikers will get to see typical Edwards Plateau countryside and the beginnings of the valleys to the south. Depending on the hiking route, Native American mounds and rare plants may be among the visual treats. Bat viewing guests climb aboard the "Batbus" and listen to a volunteer tour guide describe the countryside, history, and ecology of the area on the ride to the Devil's The Kimble County Sheriff's Office is seeking information on a theft. Stolen were five joints of white PVC well casings (pipe), 20 feet in length and 4 1/2 inches in diameter. The casings were stolen from the west end of Kimble County on or about March 6, 2009. The Sheriff's Office is offering a $500.00 reward for the recovery of the property and the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible. Please contact the Sheriff's Office at 325-446-2766 with any information. K-10-2C Sinkhole. Then guests get to look into Texas's largest onechamber cave and then see a tornadic mass of bats arise from the cave. Three and a half million bats roost at the Devil's Sinkhole. The Devil's Sinkhole is a National Natural Landmark. South Llano River State Park National Weather Service Report Daily Temperature Readings Date High Low Rainfall 03-16 60 35 0 03-17 81 35 0 03-18 79 36 0 03-19 83 35 0 03-20 83 46 0 03-21 78 63 0 03-22 81 63 0 Fort McKavett to host West Texas Heritage Days submitted Fort McKavett State Historic Site invites the public to celebrate history at the annual West Texas Heritage Days on March 28. Living historians and reenactors from around the state will gather to tell the real stories of fort life in the 1800s. The gates will open at 8 a.m. followed by a 10 a.m. flag raising ceremony. A bar-b-que lunch will begin at noon, and at 4:30 p.m. a flag lowering ceremony will be held. Activities include cavalry, artillery and infantry drills, Native American demonstrations, chuck wagon cooking and other frontier skills. Ice House Brass Band will perform during the barbecue lunch benefiting the Friends of Fort McKavett (donations accepted). Admission to the event is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and free for children 12 and under. For more information call 325-396-2358 for directions and additional details. Fort McKavett is one of 20 historic sites operated by the Texas Historical Commission. The site tells the story of a late-19th-century western fort in an authentic setting of 17 restored buildings and several ruins. The restored buildings include a hospital, post headquarters, barracks and officers quarters. A historic trail winds down to a lime kiln exhibit, rock quarry and springs. Business and Professional Services Guide Junction Automotive TECL #19190 Affordable Air & Heat 446-8999 FINANCING AVAILABLE W.A.C. affordableair@ctesc.net (325) 446-2501 325-446-4371 SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT TACLB012854C State Licensed Master Electrician Call Scott Burton for all of your heating or cooling needs! A-52-TFNC Dirt Work/Heavy Equipment Insured Rick Clausen Electric Serving Junction & Surrounding Areas A complete source of automotive parts and supplies...AND other supplies...such as hunting, fishing, camping, etc. 815 Main, Junction, Texas 76849 Electrical Service Heating and Cooling Automotive Parts & Services GENE COLE JR C-1-52p TECL 23409 Air Conditioning & Heating ELECTRICAL GENE COLE JR SYCAMORE CREEK CONSTRUCTION Ranch Enhancements Weekend services available Mike Chapman 830-459-7601 Competitive Hourly Rates TECL #24374. Residential, Commercial, Industrial. Kent Berry, Master Electrician, Junction, TX 76849. Insured 325-446-3502-home. 830-459-7158-cell. 1112 Main/PO Box 173 * Junction, TX 76849 (325) 446-4471 * Fax (325) 446-3361 * colemech@ktc.com Check out the latest news on the web: HPC junctioneagle.com Plumbing Robinson Plumbing & Appliances Mark Robinson 325-446-4395 – office 325-446-7050 – mobile 609 Main St. Kevin Wall Dirt Work Dozer & Blade Work 325-446-4154 HCR 81 Box 318-F Junction, Tx 76849 We pump septic tanks. We rent Port-A-Pottys. JOHNSON’S PEST CONTROL 325-446-3462 1922 N. Main, JUNCTION,TX 76849 TERMITES • YARDS ROACHES • TREES ROBERT JOHNSON OWNER Brush Clearing Waites Brush Clearing Tree Shear - No job too big or too small 325-446-2152 210-355-0381 cell W-51-tfc Architectural James M. Kistler Architectural and Construction Administration Services Residential, Commercial and Industrial 215 N. Sixth Street, Junction, Texas 76849 325-446-2610 325-446-2382 Will bid jobs Lic. # 546241 Windmill • Pump Repairs Insulating • Air Motor Gould-Grundfos Family owned and operated since 1957 Master Plumber License# M-16229 TCEQ Septic Tank Installer Class II License# OS0019891 QUALITY McGUIRE WELL SERVICE For all your water well drilling, call Charles or Carolyn McGuire at 446-2277 or write P.O. Box 597 Junction, TX 76849 Cal l 325-446-3089 or 830-459-7837 Installation & Repairs • Prompt Professional Courteous Service • Licensed Bonded Insured Fencing & Drilling Fence Building/Pipe Backhoe Services Fence Building HAVE BACKHOE WILL TRAVEL 231 N. 15th 325-446-4246 Authorized Stay-Tite Contractor Enterprises H-12-tfnc all Types Residential - Subdivisions Ranch - Game Proof Junction, TX 76849 Mobil: 830-459-7495 P Angel and Alicia Modesto I P E 2 3/8 – 2 7/8 – 3 1/2 Owners Entrances • Concrete Stock Tanks • Game Poof Fencing Ranch Fence • Fence Painting • Welding • Sandblasting Air Compressor Posthole Drilling or Bel-Tec Drilling Will cut and deliver M-16-tfnc Pest Control Marvin and Laura Wilson, Owners Lic.# 41911 & 6735 Allison Well Service • Complete Plumbing Repair & Drain Cleaning Service • Septic System Installation • Yard Sprinkler Systems • Sewer • Gas • Water Line Replacement • Water Heaters • Faucets & Fixtures Also state licensed Septic Installer OS5770 & Master Plumber M14661 Modesto B o a r d i n g * G r o o m i n g * T ra i n i n g kingcarepetcenter.com 325-446-2939 K-4-tfnx HILL COUNTRY WELL SERVICE For all your windmill and pump services, call 446-3456 or 446-7506 Gould-Grundfos Pumps Wind Generators Sprinkler Systems Sales & Service Solar Pumps & Products Residential • Commercial R-3-tfnc Smith Septic Services Pet Care King-Care Pet Center B-34-tfnc Hardin Plumbing Co., Inc. 1940 N. Main Street Junction, Texas 76849-3599 Phone: 325-446-2580 Fax: 325-446-2575 hardinplumbing@yahoo.com S-33-tfnc Roads, Clearing, Building Pads, Granite Gravel, Top Soil, Road Base, Material Hauling, etc. Well Services Berry Electric Service Residential and commercial plumbing Septic systems installed Frigidaire appliances W-14-tfnc 1112 Main/PO Box 173 * Junction, TX 76849 (325) 446-4471 * Fax (325) 446-3361 * colemech@ktc.com HEATING * AIR CONDITIONING Crushed red granite gravel, top soil, caliche, new road construction, repair old roads, house pads, dozer work, custom hauling, blade work, backhoe, general property maintainence. Contact: Dwayne Craig - 325-446-6070 TACL #A006061C Willard Crenwelge H: 325-446-4282C-48-tfnc Licensed septic system installer. Lic. #02711 Will haul granite, dirt, rock, sand, gravel, etc. Tooter Schulze 325 / 446-2885 Dozer Work Flooring and Window Coverings Robinson Dozer/Dirt Work APACHE FLOORS Road work, brush & cedar clearing, building sites, dirt work, trenching, backhoe work, hauling & septic systems. Base material and top soil. Tile Sale .99/sq. ft. (reg. $2.99/sq. ft.) Tile ~ Granite ~ Marble Wood ~ Laminate ~ Carpet Window shades Mark Robinson 325-446-4395 Office 325-446-7050 Mobile 609 Main Street Junction, Texas 105 N. 11th St., Junction TX 76849 R-3-tfnc 325-446-4067 B-7-tfnc Brush Management/Construction Land Clearing TEAGUE'S TREE SHEARING - Cedar Clearing - Land Clearing and Leveling - Mesquite Shearing and Spraying - Fence Lines, Lots, and Right-of-Ways Cleared Contact COURTNEY TEAGUE for all your Cedar Clearing needs! (512) 557-4144 www.apachefloors.net www.teaguestreeshearing.com T-10-8p Luke Tillman Land Improvement Cedar Clearing Mesquite Clearing General Bobcat Work Right of Ways Full Liability Insurance 210-216-9304 Junction, Texas T-24-tfnc The Junction Eagle, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Outdoors Outback by Kendal Hemphill Past the End of the World Part 1 that’s not all. Oh, no. See, the motto at Big Bend National Park is ‘You Can’t Do That Here.’ ‘Without A Permit.’ Anything you want to do, from drive through the gate to park to walk the trails to look at the rocks or whatever, you need a permit, plus some other stuff, to do it. Americans have the attitude, mostly, that if something is not specifically proscribed, it must be permitted. In Big Bend National Park, the opposite it true. If you can’t buy a permit to do something, you’d better not do it. Or else. When we got to Panther Junction, even though the Visitor’s Center was closed, we saw a Park Ranger type woman and caught her before she could get away. Which is how we found out that we were flagrantly In Violation. And we hadn’t even done anything yet. I told the lady that my boys and I planned to float Santa Elena Canyon during the next couple of days, and camp overnight along the way. So she proceeded to tell me what we needed to be allowed to do that. I thought we already had everything we needed. As it turns out, I am a total idiot. See, if you want to float the river in canoes or kayaks, you have to make sure everyone in every boat has a paddle, PLUS an extra paddle for the group, AND an extra paddle per canoe, or something. You also have to have a life jacket for everyone on the trip, PLUS an extra life jacket for the group. Or else. But that’s not all. Oh, no. You also have to have a portable potty for the group. Yes. And I didn’t have one, As the great philosopher Descartes once said, “The longest journey begins with a single flat tire.” That’s also how most of my short and medium journeys start. So when my family decided to go to Big Bend National Park and float part of the Rio Grande River during Spring Break, I expected some car trouble. I was not disappointed. The car trouble, though, was not necessarily a bad thing, since we were headed west. We had planned to leave about seven in the morning, but ended up not getting off until after ten, which put us in Junction a little before noon. So naturally we stopped at Cooper’s Barbecue for dinner. Which is pretty much what I had planned to do anyway. From Junction it’s only about 1349 miles to Ft. Stockton, where we turned south and drove another 763 miles to the entrance of Big Bend National Park and Dangerous Animal and Reptile Preserve. It was closed. Well, not exactly closed, but we got there too late in the day to get into the visitor’s center at Panther Junction and get a permit to float the river. The Rio Grande River is actually what they call International Waters, which means it doesn’t belong to either the United States or Mexico. So naturally the National Park Service requires everyone who wants to float on it to buy a permit. This costs ten bucks, which is not refundable in case of drowning. Or anything else. But because I’m an idiot. And I couldn’t rent one from the park people, because they were closed. Which was why I also couldn’t get a permit, until the next day. Maybe. So we left and drove on through the park to Terlingua, where we had a room reserved at the Big Bend Resort & Adventures, which belongs to a company called Forever Resorts, part of this complete breakfast. If you’re ever in Terlingua, that’s the place to stay. Not that you have a lot of choices in Terlingua anyway, but the folks at Big Bend Resort & Adventures are extremely nice and accommodating, even to idiots. It was just about dark, but we decided to look around and see if we could learn anything about the river, so we drove down to Big Bend River Tours. Sure enough, it was still open. And sure enough, the owner was there. And sure enough, she had all the extra stuff we were required to have for our trip, including a River Potty. She sort of reminded me of Mr. Haney from Green Acres. For the mere price of five dollars a day, plus a thirtydollar cleaning fee, she rented us a River Potty. Which is WAY less than I would charge, if I were going to have to clean one of those things. She also told us we could get a permit to float the river in Lajitas, which is where we planned to put in anyway. So that all worked out very well, and it seemed we were all set for the next day. But then, any river trip is an adventure, and a trip on the Rio Grande is more adventure than most, so you never know what’s going to happen. Plus, I’m an idiot . . . Kendal Hemphill is an outdoor humor columnist and public speaker who plans to write about the actual river trip next week. Maybe. Write to him at PO Box 1600, Mason, Tx 76856 or jeep@verizon.net by Don Knotts A consumer guide to the Farm Bill credit: American Farm Bureau Food Security in the 2008 Farm Bill: Ensures that U.S. consumers continue to have access to the thousands of safe, high-quality and affordable U.S.-grown farm products they rely on to feed and clothe their families and fuel their lives. Provides a safety net for farmers so that when prices for farm goods take a tumble, farmers can recoup some of the money they spent on the fuel, fertilizer, water and other inputs to grow and raise those goods. Without that safety net, farmers could be forced to shrink the amount of food and fiber they are able to grow, which would cause the prices consumers pay to go up. In addition, more food would be imported, creating food safety worries as well as cost concerns. Nutrition and Food Programs: Give more Americans access to the Food Stamp Program, which has been renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP helps lowincome people and families buy the food they need for good health. Increases SNAP benefits. Boosts funding for the Page 7 Emergency Food Assistance Program, which helps supplement the diets of low-income needy persons, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance. Boosts funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, through which participating schools offer and promote free fresh fruits and vegetables and dried fruit throughout the school day. Boosts funding for the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition program. This program awards grants to states, U.S. territories, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments to provide lowincome seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers’ markets, roadside stands and community-supported agriculture programs. Creates initiatives for enhancing community food security, promoting local foods and advocating healthy eating patterns, including curbing obesity. Food Aid: Helps fight hunger and provides assistance throughout the world. The United States is one of the most generous providers of in-kind food aid to fight hunger and starvation around the world, thanks to help from the farm bill. U.S. food products identified by the marking "GIFT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" are among the most visible manifestations of the good will of the U.S. to developing countries. County Agent’s Corner Russell Kott, County Extension Agent, Kimble Co., Texas AgriLife Extension, Texas A&M University On April 9, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a multi-county Hill Country Wildlife Management Field Day beginning with registration at 8:15 a.m. at the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The day’s activities will conclude by 3 p.m. The AgriLife Extension offices from Mason, Gillespie, Menard, McCulloch, Kimble and Llano are conducting the field day. To reach the management area, take Ranch Road 386 north from the Mason Courthouse, travel about two and a half miles and turn left on Old Mason Road. Go two and a half miles down Old Mason Road to the management area entrance. The morning program will include a tour of prescribed fire as well as mechanical and herbicide brush control methods. Proper rate and volume of various brush herbicide applications will be demonstrated. There also will be discussions on deer nutritional needs during drought, and on website design and marketing the wildlife resource. A producer panel is planned that is comprised of landown- F-38-tfnc Bridal Registry Cherokee Bridge and Road, Ltd. The Bridal Registry is always open. 545 U.S. 83 North Concrete Sales Division !BATCH PLANT NOW OPERATING! Ready Mix delivered to meet your needs City Pharmacy Gift Department 1610 Main CALL 325-446-3710 Mobile: 210-827-4286 Delivery after 5 p.m. and on Saturdays at no extra cost. Also Road Work, Base, Materials, Paving and Dams C-29-tfnc AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER RIO 10 STADIUM CINEMA 1401 BANDERA HWY 173 KERRVILLE Online advance tickets available BUY BEFORE YOU DRIVE! For movie info. please call 830-792-5170 Or visit our website at www.rioentertainment.com KERRVILLE, TX P-32-tfnc C-11-tfnc 325-446-2511 Environment: Provides money to help farmers care for the environment. Because of the environmental programs funded through the program, farmers are able to plant hundreds of thousands of trees every year; provide habitat for wildlife; increase and protect wetlands and prevent soil erosion. Helps farmers do their part to keep greenhouse gases in check for the rest of our nation. Agriculture remains the country's number one source of carbon sequestration, helping to offset the impact of the rest of the economy's contribution to greenhouse gas build-ups. Energy: Helps supply home-grown renewable energy and decreases our dependence on foreign oil. The farm bill allows America's farmers to grow crops to make renewable fuels that are good for our environment and the nation's economy. Provides much needed funds for research on the next generation of renewable fuels. A Way of Life: Primarily helps individuals and families who have farmed together for generations and make up more than 98 percent of U.S. farms, producing about 86 percent of our country's food supply. Keeps families farming and helps them contribute to rural communities. Farmers make vital contributions to their rural communities, last year paying more than $8 billion in property taxes alone to help support rural schools and infrastructure. ers who are successful in marketing their wildlife. Some have operated wildlife enterprises in the Hill Country for several generations. The presentations will range from non-guided hunts to total package deals. Some producers manage breeding programs behind game-proof fences and derive their income solely from wildlife and recreation, while others view hunting simply as a means of diversifying their operations. They will also speak on topics including raising penned quail, season leases and experiences related to running successful livestock and wildlife enterprises simultaneously. Individual pre-registration by April 6 is $15 and $20 thereafter. The fee includes lunch. Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available (two integrated pest management and one general). Call the Kimble County Extension office at 325-4462620 for reservations, or you may call any of the other participating counties. For further information please contact Russell Kott, County Extension Agent Agriculture/Natural Resources, at 325-446-2620 or email r-kott@tamu.edu. The Kimble County Extension website http://kimble-co. tamu.edu/ also contains helpful information. Page 8 The Junction Eagle, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 SPORTS PAGE Girls track results at Harper by Coach Rob McAdams JV girls division: 100 M Dash Kasey Castleberry, 1st, 13.55; 200 M Dash Castleberry, 1st, 28.22; Varsity girls division; Discus Joanna Gutierrez, 4th, 75' 2" Kilee Wilham, 5th, 66' 1" Shot Put Wilham, 5th, 28' 9" Gutierrez, 6th, 26' 9" Long Jump Megan Murr, 1st, 15' 9" Kayley Eckert, 2nd, 15' .5" Triple Jump Eckert, 1st, 33' 7.5" Murr, 2nd, 33' 4.25" High Jump Murr, 1st, 4' 8" 100 M Dash Zoey Ellingwood, 4th, 13.68 200 M Dash Ellingwood, 4th, 29.20 400 M Dash Eckert, 2nd, 1.02.07 300 M Hurdles Tye Douthit, 5th, 1.01.52 Molly Carpenter rounds first and looks into right field to see how the play is developing. It’s a matter of foot speed now. Junior Sheyanne Smith and the ball are both on their way to first. Senior Molly Carpenter gives a lesson on how the sacrifice bunt should work. As she heads to first, most of the Forsan infield is crowded around the ball. First baseman Desirae Newbury fields the ball and makes the tag to quickly retire this Forsan batter. Senior Hope Gipson lets this Forsan player know that if you head for home against the Lady Eagles, you better really want it. Senior Macy Brooks heads toward home for an important Freshman Mary Whitworth fields and fires the ball back to run. Every one counted as the Lady Eagles edged Forsan by the infield from her position in center field. a score of 4 to 3. Lady Eagles play Winters at Home, Friday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m. Varsity Eagles play Menard at Home, Friday, March 27, at 4:30 p.m. Come out to the ball fields and support your Eagles! This sports page is provided by the following sponsors: Termites Yards, Roaches Trees JOHNSON’S PEST CONTROL 325-446-3462 The Milky Way “Good Food, Good Friends” 1922 Main St. JUNCTION, TX. Isaack’s Restaurant “Enjoy Hill Country Hospitality” Benny & Jennifer Frasier 1606 Main Street • (325) 446-2629 2200 N. Main (325) 446-9300 Junction Eagle Booster Club reminds everyone, “It takes TEAMWORK to Go Eagles!! 1619 Main St. West Bear Creek For all your GET ‘ER DONE!” and feed needs. 406 Main Street (325) 446-2514 Good luck Eagles!! Make it Happen! Play with your Hearts! You are Champions! Dr. Reneé Schulze, JISD Superintendent FIRST STATE BANK The Friendly Bank 2002 Main (325) 446-3391 Dairy Queen Fast, Friendly Service & new sweet deal menu. IH-10 & Hwy. 83 (325) 446-2121 446-2695 2337 N. Main 446-9200 Junction Short Stop & Pizza Pro OPEN 24 Hours (325) 446-4524 (325) 446-2739 1977 North Main Kimble County Sheriff’s Office & Sheriff Hilario Cantu Keep a strong mind and healthy body, Say no to drugs! 904 College • Junction (325) 446-2561 Helping You is what We Do Best
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