Page 2, Thursday, January 22, 2004 News for Southern Colorado County, Texas — The Eagle Lake Headlight

MEMBER 2004

THE EAGLE LAKE HEADLIGHT (USPS 163-760)

P.O. Box 67 - 220 East Main CITY OF EAGLE LAKE, TEXAS 77434-0067

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Published Weekly-Every Thursday The Eagle Lake Headlight reserves the right to reject, edit or omit editorial content and/or advertisement for any reason in order to conform to the paper's policy.

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^ To THE EDITOR & You

ELMS PTO says thanks License plate against birth defects 8-10, the Eagle Lake Middle thank all those who helped make the Dear Editor, tion and linking families with suppoi

Historic land dispute secures ownership to 4,662 acres

Jan. 8-10, the Eagle Lake Middle School held a basketball tournament with seven teams from surrounding areas participating.

The ELMS PTO was responsible for the concession stand all three days. On Saturday, Jan. 10, the stand sold all its usual good food, but thanks to the help of some wonderful volunteers and parents, grilled burgers and hot dogs were included as well. The tournament was a success for all.

The ELMS PTO would like to

thank all those who helped make the concession stand a success in one way or another. Thank you to Emily Torres, Lucelia Yanez. Eddie and Teresa Lo- soya, Ann and Falen Braden, Janet Scott, Lois Raabe, Lena Ferguson, Xavier Rios, Lydia & Greg Contreras, Arthur Flores, Arnold Cardenas, Phil- ip Soto, PTO president, Clifton George, Bruno Flores, J.D. & Meagen Contre- ras, Lynn Ellis and Alex Ramirez.

Thanks to all for your time and help. Pat Flores, ELMS

Senior Serve sends thanks Rice Project Graduation wishes to

extend a very warm thank you to ev- eryone who donated to the 2004 Se- nior Serve Silent Auction.

We had a very successful and en- tertaining evening.

Our silent auction was a huge suc- cess thanks to all of you. Your contri-

bution helped tremendously. All pro- ceeds from Senior Serve benefit Project Graduation.

The seniors and their parents appre- ciate the generosity you have shown.

Sincerely, Rice Project Graduation Penny Henske, silent auction chair

Dear Editor, Jan. is Birth Defects Prevention

Month. Each year, more than 11,000 Texas children are born with a major structural birth defect. Birth defects are the leading cause of disability and in- fant death.

As part of its mission to save ba- bies from death and disability, the March of Dimes has introduced a spe- cial license plate benefiting the Texas Birth Defects Registry at the Texas Department of Health. The Registry exists to identify and describe patterns of birth defects in Texas and collabo- rate with others in finding causes of birth defects, working towards preven-

tion and linking families with support services.

For more information about the March of Dimes license plate, visit the Texas Department of Transportation's web site at www.txdot.state.tx.us, con- tact them at 512-374-5010, or contact your local county tax assessor-collec- tor.

Join the fight against birth defects and help give every Texas baby the chance at a healthy start in life.

Sincerely, Meganne Walsh, M.D., Chair, State Public Affairs Committee March of Dimes, Texas Chapter

More than a thousand Texas land owners probably weren't paying a whole lot of attention last week to the presidential campaigning in Iowa or the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling uphold- ing Texas' congressional redistricting plan. They were more concerned about keeping their property.

The land owners had been fighting to save their rights to 4,662 acres in Upshur County, acreage worth millions of dollars in mineral rights. Three men had filed a vacancy application with the state, hoping to prove that the land in question still belonged to Texas, not the folks who had been keeping deeds in their safe deposit boxes for years.

But last week, after reviewing the

State Capitol Highlights

By Mike Cox Texas Press Association

fr Let's Look Back..

V 24 & 48 YEARS AGO

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/r New Year's Sale

ALL Seasonal Items...40-50% Off New Mark Downs on Selected

Merchandise... 20-30% Jewelry 30% Off

Selection of Crosses 40% Off Close Out Table at 50-75% OFF!

Come By & Take Advantage of These Great Offers! K

Jan. 3,1980 James A. Cash received a beautiful

Americanism Award from Jack List- owski, commander of Rice Area Me- morial Post 8783 of the VFW...

Mrs. Frankie Baird Jobe of Gar- wood was hospitalized Dec. 29 with injuries received when her van went out of control and flipped on its side...

The first baby of 1980 arrived at Eagle Lake Community Hospital Jan. 1. Not named as of press time, the par- ents are Lorenzo and Rosa Conejo...

Rhonda Gertson, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Dan Gertson of Lissie, was named runner-up in the Texas Farm Bureau queen contest in McAllen...

Mr. & Mrs. Bob Ashby of Eagle Lake announced the engagement and approaching marriage of their daugh- ter, Judy Kay, to Ronald James Miksch, son of Mr. & Mrs. LeRoy J. Miksch of Needville. A June 21 wed- ding is planned at the First United Methodist Church in Eagle Lake...

Mrs. Charles F. (Lucy Anne) Kal- lina closed her eyes to a peaceful sleep on Dec. 28 at Eagle Lake Community

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Hospital. Funeral services were held Dec. 30inNada...

Mr. & Mrs. Darrell Gertson and 22-month-old daughter, Kristi, wel- comed a new addition to their family, a new daughter and sister, Sammi Lynn. She arrived Dec. 26 at Eagle Lake Community Hospital...

The engagement and approaching marriage of Miss Rebecca Priesmeyer of El Campo and Gregory Lobpries of Garwood was announced by her parents, Mrs. Nancy Christensen of Houston and John H. Priesmeyer of El Campo. The prospective grooms parents are Mr. & Mrs. Howard F. Lobpries of Garwood. The wedding is planned for Jan. 26 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Nada...

Mr. & Mrs. Larry Waddell wel- comed a son, Jason Dean, Dec. 27...

Citizens of the area learned with great sadness of the death of Joseph Curtis Fling, 67, a native of Garwood and long-time prominent rice farmer and rancher in the community...

Mr. & Mrs. Stacy Allen Mueller of Rock Island happily welcomed the

^arrival of a daughter, their first child, on Dec. 31. Little Stacie Marie Muel- ler weighed six pounds, 14 ounces...

Last rites were held for Mrs. Vic- toria Kucherka of Columbus, sister- in-law of Stanley Kucherka of Eagle Lake.

Jan. 5,1956 Police Chief Shaw resigns to de-

vote full time to his business, Shaw's Army Surplus Store. Cleburne Officer Cliff Benson named successor at city council meeting Monday night...

Mr. & Mrs. W.F. Meitzen Sr. lost their home and all personal possessions in a tragic fire at the Pecan Valley Farm last Friday afternoon...

George H. Crane, vice president of First National Bank, was named new

Chamber of Commerce president for 1956...

Between 8:50 and 9:35 Tuesday night, a bold bandit heaved a rock through a plate glass window at A.J. Struss Auto Supply Store on Main Street and walked away with two .22 caliber pistols on display in the win- dow...

Winners in the Garwood Christmas lighting contest were: first place, Mrs. Robert Schuirring,- second, Mrs. L.D. Wied; third, Mrs. Ed Lee Shaw; and honorable mention, Mrs. John Gideon...

Local Girl Scouts Jinny Pender- (See 24 & 48, Page 4)

ABOUT TOWN...

•Cheryl McDonald shared some wonderful news. Her brother-in-law; Sgl. Cecil. R. McDonald, was home from Iraq for two weeks of rest and re- laxation. He has been in Iraq since May 2, 2003.

Cecil came home to visit his wife, Lena, and daughter, Carol, who reside in Leesville, Louisiana, on Jan. 5. He is stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Cecil and his family came to Texas to visit with his brother and family, his grandmother, his wife's parents, his parents and one of his uncles.

He was scheduled to leave for Iraq Jan. 20 and is expected to return around the end of April or first part of May.

•Misty Morales, daughter of Mike and Terry Morales of Eagle Lake, was on the Dean's List at Texas State Uni- versity. Misty is majoring in Elemen- tary Education.

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proceedings of a Dec. 17 hearing, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson ruled that the land owners had a valid claim on their acreage.

Had the vacancy claimants been successful — they can still appeal to the courts — they stood to collect a finder's fee from the state amounting to one-sixteenth of the mineral rights to the land. That would add up to mil- lions of dollars.

The case was settled, at least from the General Land Office's viewpoint, on the basis of history. Patterson's title experts reviewed the disputed land all the way back to the 1830s, when one William King first owned it. The con- clusion was that the land did not be- long to the state, though some sloppy surveying had been done.

This has been the most significant land dispute in Texas for six decades, but 10 other vacancy cases for various tracts around the state still are pend- . ing.

Move over, Bubba... It's called the Move Over Act, and

that's what it's about, moving over. A law passed during the last legis-

lative session requires drivers passing a police car or any other emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road- way to move from the lane nearest the vehicle or to drop their speed to 20 miles an hour below the posted limit. That can be a pretty significant slow down if the speed limit is 25 mph.

The Department of Public Safety offered a 90-day grace period, but started enforcing the law last month. Tickets can cost up to $200, but if the violation results in property damage from a collision, the fine can reach $500. Should a violation result in an injury, me line can mi $2,000. Oi), uud up to 180 days in jail.

State Cemetery ceremony set... A sailor who died a long way from

home will be buried in the State Cem- etery in Austin.

When state archaeologists exca- vated LaSalle's ship the La Belle on the middle Texas coast several years ago, they found a partially clothed skel- eton in what had been the bow of the French explorer's ill-fated ship.

The name "Barange" was on a pot found next to the remains, and archae- ologists have assumed that was the sailor's name.

No matter who he was, he will be buried with honors in a ceremony set

(See Highlights, Page 3)

Continued from Page 1

A special meeting was called for Monday, Jan. 20, to possibly choose an interim superintendent. Whether or not that would be done was also up in the air.

The following is taken from the Board's minutes of the Jan. 12 meet- ing.

Visitors in attendance were Hous- ton Cummings, Mike Keenon and Sue Weller

The Board received thank you notes from the staffs of Sheridan School and the Colorado County Coop for the meat trays.

Jack Vawter reported the play at the highs school went real well and com- mended the students for an excellent performance.

The minutes of the Dec. 8, 2003 regular meeting were presented to the Board and unanimously accepted as presented.

Bill Hefner presented the Revenue and Expense Report. Vivian Spanihel made the motion to accept the report. Vawter seconded the motion.

Sue Weller, Principal of the Eagle Lake Primary School (ELPS), reported as of Dec. 19,2003 enrollment at ELPS was 391 and attendance is holding at 95.6% for the semester. She com-

mended the custodian and those who help make the floors so shiny over the holidays. Weller also informed the Board of a few things that need replac- ing and/or repairing. She said they have received their Open Court Reading materials and have met with the Open Court trainer. Weller did faculty obser- vations in Nov. and Dec. and the teach- ers are doing wonderful.

Superintendent Dr. Richard Gott introduced new Eagle Lake Middle School Principal Mike Keenon to the Board. Keenon reported enrollment of 227 and attendance is 93.8%. Report cards went out as scheduled. He thanked the Board for allowing him to serve into this new capacity and felt the transition was made smoothly.

Mr. Cummings reported the Jr. High band students go to Solo and En- semble in El Campo Feb. 7. All Jr. High students are required to go. The high school band members will go Feb. 20. Cummings presented a few ideas for the Board to think about including his plans for a senior trip.

Dr. Gott updated the Board on school finance.

Hefner then presented the canopy bid to the Board. The Board accepted the bid from AVAdek in the amount of

$11,841. Gott discussed the teacher shortage

area with the Board. Vawter voted to accept the present

policy that all areas are teacher short- age areas. Laurel Milentz seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Hefner presented the Bids on Mis- cellaneous items to the Board. The motion carried unanimously.

Dr. Gott presented the school cal- endar waiver for the 2004-05 school year to the Board. Tanya Wiese mo- tioned to approve submitting the school calendar wavier for the 2004-05 school year, which was seconded by Betty Schuirring.

The Board discussed establishing a long-range district planning commit- tee.

Gott presented student transfers to the Board. They were denied.

Hefner presented the Budget Amendments. They were unanimously accepted

There were no resignations. Eric Nethery and Richard Muehr

were hired as new employees of the district.

The Board conducted the superin- tendent's evaluation. No action was taken.

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