Tragedy follows loss of son in Iraq

The Karnes County Youth Show will kick off Jan. 17 and event organizers are looking forward to doing the show’s first year using the new facilities.

The $100,000 worth of improvements have been a welcome addition to the show grounds during other events like Lonesome Dove Fest and Karnes County Agriculture Extension Agent Dennis Hale said this year’s Youth Show will be a lot more comfortable for everyone.

"The highlight of the show this year will be the improvement of the facilities. It’s all set up so pretty and nice, now. Everybody’s excited about the new facilities. Everybody’s just said, ‘We needed this ten years ago,’" he said.

The outdoor animal pens have been replaced and the men’s and women’s restrooms have been upgraded extensively. Not only is there more space, but the restrooms themselves have heating and air conditioning.

Kenedy City Councilman Felipe Leal served as mayor pro tem during the Kenedy City Council’s meeting on January 8 in the absence of Mayor Randy Garza, and Councilmen Ken Riley and Lionel Garcia, Jr.

Ralph Contra, with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), brought an update on the upcoming work on Highway 72 to 792 and U.S. 181.

Contra explained how the widening of the roads and some of the work in conjunction with the city of Kenedy’s Texas Agriculture grant can be done. TxDOT has been in communication with the Texas Agri-grant people to be in the loop and in compliance with the city of Kenedy’s plans.

In prior meetings, Kenedy council members have discussed lighting to be installed and other aspects of work to be done with the grant. The idea is to help the city save money but it was emphasized that the grant money must be used as designated.

Contra explained that (TxDOT) can and will help with the installation of sidewalks to be in compliance with the ADA requirements. He said that the construction should begin in a few months and that they will work with the city, with an invitation that if the members need further explanation, to call or come by his office.

Falls City council members discussed water, transportation, and housing issues during their regular meeting Jan. 9.

The largest concern on the table was the massive water leaks the town had faced during the previous month and the shortage of utility workers. Until recently, the town only had one man performing utility duties and Mayor Brent Houdmann said the department has been stretched thin.

"We’ve had a lot of water leaks in town," Houdmann said. "Last week, we had an eight-inch water link break which is pretty significant," he said. "When we got that fixed, right after we had another water line break. We lost several thousand gallons of water."

All the leaks have been repaired, thanks in part to the San Antonio River Authority that sent help during the water emergency.

Karnes County’s Commissioners Court approved the contract with the City of Runge to collect delinquent and non-delinquent taxes beginning February 1, 2008.

Tax Assessor/Collector Ann Franke said that this is a one-year contract unless terminated by either party.

Discussion of bid proposals for the county’s insurance coverage for the coming year was tabled until more of the data and information concerning the cost of workman’s compensation becomes available. But the court did approve securing bonds for county officials.

During the Jan. 7 meeting of the Karnes City ISD school board, Superintendent Frances Penland gave approval for the opening of the school’s new track.

School officials consulted with Defargo, the company hired by the district to finish the track, and Roland Kunkel, the district expert who was previously hired to inspect the track and gave the approval to the district.

The track has been under construction since spring 2006 when the first company, Sports Surfaces Inc., began work for the district. At the time the district had paid $201,343 to Sports Surfaces Inc., which left problems in the track surface. The board then hired Georgetown-based company Defargo, with a contracted amount being $102,500 to resurface the track and all runways. The district also had M. Foster Construction to install the north runway foundations for the triple and long jump pits, costing $9,840.

"It would have been nice if it was done right the first time but … that happens," Penland was quoted as saying in the Dec. 14 issue of The Badger Times – Karnes City High School’s newspaper.