The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 5, 2004 Page: 4 of 32
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Hemphill County Area Newspapers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Hemphill County Library.
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4
THURSDAY5 FEBRUARY2004
THE CANADIAN RECORD
n split vote, County Commissioners authorize
uncling for $1.2 million railway overpass
Hemphill County will tote the
note for Construction of a $1.2 mil-
lion overpass crossing the rail-
road tracks on Canadian's north
end, according to a split vote re-
corded during Monday's joint
meeting of City and County offi-
cials. The overpass will be built
along either Cedar or Birch
Streets, and is intended to divert
heavy industrial traffic from
Highway 60/83 to Red Deer Road,
and to provide a safe railway
crossing for other traffic to the
residential area west of the
tracks.
As part of the agreement, the
City of Canadian has authorized
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As always,
Candy, Cards, and
Plush!
Canadian JPharmacy
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9-1 Saturday
200 Cheyenne
323-6171
the closing of the Elliott Street
crossing upon completion of the
construction project, in return for
which Burlington Northern Santa
Fe will pay the City $100,000. City
Council members voted unani-
mously Monday to contribute that
money to the overpass
construction.
BNSF representatives were
on hand Monday to present their
latest cost estimates for the pro-
ject, and to clarify what their com-
pany's contribution would be to
the project. According to those
documents, presented by Con-
struction Engineer Lewis Ruder,
BNSF will absorb the costs of en-
gineering and construction ad-
ministration (estimated at
$200,000), will provide easements
for all BNSF property ($40,000),
will provide the land acquisition
survey filing and transfer
($40,000), and will contribute
$100,000 for the closure of Elliott
Street.
In addition, Ruder agreed that
the County's costs would not ex-
ceed those in the proposal if local
officials acted quickly to authorize
funding for the project. "This is a
turnkey price," he said. "If there
is any increase in the costs, the
railroad will eat it."
"Our contribution," Ruder
said, "is substantial. We feel it's a
pretty good offer."
After mulling over the options
presented, and receiving some
clarification on the details,
County Commissioners voted 8-2
to authorize a maximum of $1,075
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Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
2 STEAK
FINGERS
3
POT ROAST
4
SPAGHETTI
5
ENCHILADAS
6
HAMBURGERS
9
TACO
CASSEROLE
10
GOULASH
1 1
BEIROX
12
MEATLOAF
13
BAKED
CHICKEN
16
CATFISH
17
TACO SOUP
18
CHICKEN
TETRAZINNI
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LIVER &
ONIONS
20
HAMBURGERS
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BBQ
SAUSAGE
24
PORK ROAST
25
BEIROX
26
COWBOY
BEANS
27
BAKED
CHICKEN
As always, we
have fresh
Smash Hit Subs
made to order and
^ Hot Stuff
Pizza!
*
Alexander's Grocery
& Deli
HWY 60 & Birch Canadian, TX
806-323-8853
million in funding for the project.
Joe Schaef's motion was sec-
onded by John Ramp, and Ramp,
Schaef and Judge Bob Gober
voted in support of the motion. Ed
Culver and Lynard Schaef were
opposed.
Judge Gober explained Tues-
day that the County would proba-
bly issue certificates of obligation
for the project costs, with an ex-
pected 7-10 year payout. Ap-
praised values are up this year,
Gober said, improving the
County's economic picture. In ad-
dition, the Court has allotted
1-cent of its tax rate for the Main
Street Project for the, last two
years, and has met that obliga-
tion. "We can take 1-cent of our
tax rate and put it aside to pay for
this project," he said.
Gober defended the decision,
saying, "The whole court realizes
that this is a safety issue. If we can
prevent one person from getting
killed, then this will be money well
spent."
The whole court agreed that
there was a need, he added, but
was divided on how much financial
responsibility BNSF should as-
sume for the project. BNSF's
massive double-tracking project,
once completed, will increase rail
traffic substantially, although
company officials have been
vague when asked how that will
translate into trains per day. In-
creased rail traffic will also mean
increased revenues for BNSF, a
point Commissioner Culver made
when explaining his vote in oppo-
sition. "I just feel this is a problem
that we didn't create," Culver said
Tuesday, "and the railroad wasn't
doing much to help the cause,"
"We need an overpass, but I
don't think the citizens of
Hemphill County needed to pay
for it," Culver added. "In my busi-
ness, if I cause a problem or nui-
sance, it's my responsibility to
take care of it."
Judge Gober said the whole
court shared some of those feel-
ings, but still believed the project
would be a good investment. "I'm
just glad itV going to be built," he
said. "It will be a big safety factor.
It will alleviate traffic downtown,
and will get the trucks off of
Gilmer Street."
"It's expensive," he said, "but
if you look at it over the next 100
years, it will be worth it."
The exact route the overpass
will take is still indefinite. Both
Birch and Cedar Streets are un-
der consideration. A12" water line
that runs down Cedar Street may
cause some problems with that lo-
cation. Birch presents drainage
issues, and may require widening
to accommodate truck traffic.
Gober said the City, County and
BNSF are still considering both
options.
Ruder said that a contract will
be ready for signatures within two
weeks, and that construction will
begin as quickly as possible in or-
der to allow completion of the
overpass by the end of July.
"exas Farmers Union
Re-Elects Wes Sims
DALLAS—Wes Sims was re-elected
to a fifth consecutive two year
term as President of the Texas
Farmers Union (TFU). Sims, a
family farmer and cattle pro-
ducer from Sweetwater was first
elected in 1996 to lead the Texas
family farm and ranch group.
"I pledge to continue a total
commitment and effort to do all I
can to bring economic justice to
our family farmers and ranch-
ers," said Sims in his acceptance
speech. "Anything less than fair-
ness and justice for rural America
is totally unacceptable."
The delegates from this group
also re-elected Mike Oldham, a
peanut, cotton and cattle pro-
ducer, from Clarendon to his first
full two-year term as Vice-Presi-
dent. Also, elected as District Di-
rectors were Dean Slaughter, a
grain farmer from Perryton, Phil
Seymore, a cotton and livestock
producer from Merkel, A. J.
Priesmeyer, a rice farmer from El
Campo and Billy Miller, a dairy
farmer from McGregor.
The 102nd annual convention
was dedicated in loving memory
to Lloyd Zwahr of Needville.
Also, Buck and Etta Breeding of
Shamrock were selected to be in-
ducted as a Pioneer in Agriculture
in TFU.
The opening ceremonies were
conducted by the FFA Chapter
from Slidell as they presented the
flags and led the pledge of alle-
giance. Alina Tatum, FFA Chap-
ter Sulphur Springs and winner of
the "Rural American Idol" contest
gave a beautiful presentation of
the National Anthem. Among the
speakers were Congressman
Charlie Stenholm, Congress
woman Eddie Bernice Johnson,
State Representatives Pete
Laney, Dan Flynn, Lon Burnam,
Wes Cowan, Senior Texas Em-
ployment Program, Lesley
Ramsey, Texas Fair Trade Coali-
tion, Gary Condra, Ag Law Spe-
cialist, Dan Hunter, Southwest
Peanut Growers, Larry Mitchell,
Executive Director of American
Corn Growers, Katy Ziegler, Leg-
islative Representative for NFU
and Dave Frederickson, National
Farmers Union President.
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Brown, Laurie Ezzell. The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 5, 2004, newspaper, February 5, 2004; Canadian, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth220615/m1/4/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hemphill County Library.