By Julye Keeble for Uvalde-Leader News, August 30, 2020
10 years ago
Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010
Voters say no to tax hike – The defeat of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District tax-ratification election Saturday by a vote of 621 against to 550 for means it’s back to the budgeting process for school administrators. Superintendent Richard Loesch said he met with district administrators Tuesday morning. “I do appreciate everybody who came out and voted,” he said. “A message was sent by voters that they do not want to raise taxes and they are concerned about our schools.”
Golf movie filming in Utopia – Saturday afternoon the cast and crew of “Seven Days in Utopia” prepared to shoot the turning-point scene of the movie on a closed set in the Waresville Cemetery located near the Utopia Golf Course. The movie, which stars Robert Duvall and Lucas Black, is based on the book, “Golf’s Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia,” by David Cook of Fredericksburg. While the film is based in Utopia, scenes have been filmed in Fredericksburg. However, producer Jason Michael Berman said, the heart of the movie is Utopia. The film will reflect the golf course, Lost Maples Cafe and other spots in Utopia and the surrounding area.
Council approves $4.1 million expenditure – Uvalde City Councilmen unanimously approved issuing $4.1 million in certificates of obligation at a regular council meeting held Tuesday night, which means city residents will likely see an increase in their utility bills. The money will be used to fund expansion of the city’s landfill and a clarifier for the wastewater treatment plan. … The increase in debt will be paid for by increased city utility charges, explained city finance director Don Moore.
Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010
Civic Center work is topic at city council meeting – Whether or not to move forward with a grant and loan equaling $6 million for renovation of the Willie de Leon Civic Center was a topic of lengthy discussion at Tuesday’s Uvalde City meeting. The combination of grant and loan from United States Department of Agriculture for the renovation project has been tabled for the last several months despite $1.5 million the city has already allocated for the project through a certificate of obligation. Councilman J Allen Carnes strongly urged moving forward with the work.
Land added to Garner Park – The Texas parks and Wildlife Commission Thursday gave the go-ahead for the purchase of a 113.5-acre tract of ranch land contiguous to the southern boundary of Garner State Park in Uvalde County. The department has negotiated a contract to buy the acreage at the appraised value from landowners John and Taylor Cummings. Their father, Jack, grew up on the ranch and worked to help develop Garner State Park as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. His sons later inherited the property from their aunt, who originally acquired the property in the 1930s.
50 years ago
Thursday, Aug. 27, 1970
Walk-outs back in class as school suits are filed – Classes began in Uvalde Wednesday with no apparent school boycott, but with two federal suits apparently having been filed against the Uvalde schools. On behalf of Josue Garza, a Uvalde elementary school teacher whose contract renewal in the spring sparked a continuing boycott by Mexican-American students here, a suit was reported filed in Federal District Court in Del Rio Tuesday afternoon seeking reinstatement in his job and asking $475,000 damages from Uvalde School officials. The suit was the second reported filed in as many days. On Monday a $150,000 class action suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in San Antonio on behalf of Daniel Morales and all Mexican-American students in Uvalde for alleged denial of equal educational opportunity.
Marijuana haul largest in county history – A routine stop Tuesday afternoon due to a traffic violation resulted in the confiscation of the largest marijuana haul in Uvalde County history. Sergeant Ollie Clark and patrolman Dennis Cotton arrested Robert C. Huse of Maine for not having a driver’s license. They also arrested Murray A. McKenney for allowing an unlicensed person to operate his vehicle. Murray’s address was also listed as in Maine. The two 20-year-old youths were stopped about 5 miles east of Knippa on U.S. Highway 90. … Upon further investigation the DPS men returned to the car. They were granted permission to search the vehicle, but neither youth had the key to the trunk. Meanwhile a federal narcotic agent made a visual search of the car and he smelled the raw uncut weed. A thorough search was then made and 36 plastic bags were found containing about 1 kilogram each. The entire amount was said to be about 90 pounds and the estimated value is around $72,000. The two Maine youths confessed they had floated the stuff across the Rio Grande below Amistad Dam. Both of their billfolds were still wet as well as several of the bags of the illegal weed.
Sunday, Aug. 30, 1970
MRG review panel approves project – The Project Review Committee of the Middle Rio Grande Development Council of which Uvalde is a member met Wednesday afternoon in Del Rio and approved two projects for possible federal funding. The first project was submitted by the City of Uvalde for improvements for the airport here. The second project was submitted by the City of Eagle Pass to establish as detective bureau and narcotics and dangerous drugs unit. The airport project will include extending the present 3,750-foot runway to 6,000 feet and strengthen and re-top the runway to accommodate larger aircraft. This is reportedly the first step in an improvement program at the airport and is in keeping with the city’s comprehensive plan. … Application for funds in excess of $87,000 was made.
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