Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 22, 1993 Page: 1 of 44
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Earth Day ’93
Today is Earth Day, the day set
aside to increase consciousness of
our planet and its environment.
There were, however, a lot of envi-
ronmentalists before it became
"politically correct." They are better
known as farmers and ranchers.
In conjunction with the Seco
Creek Demonstration Project (in-
cluding tons of hard work and re-
search by Melony Sikes), the Anvil
Herald is pleased to include an Earth
Day supplement in this week's issue.
Come home to Yancey
Yancey residents will host their
annual "Homecoming" Sunday,
Apr. 24. Everyone is invited to
come back to visit with the home-
folks and enjoy a barbecue dinner
on the grounds and singing.
Project Graduation
Seniors are reminded to pick up
their Project Graduation tickets
from Mrs. Highsmith.
LL Board meets Monday
The Hondo Little League Board of
Directors will meet on Monday, at
7:30 p.m. at City Hall. This is the
final meeting before the league's
opening day festivities.
The season’s opening day is Sat.,
May 1. Games are scheduled the en-
tire day at the Little League Fields,
and the league will hold a chicken
barbecue at noon. Barbecue tickets
are on sale from Little Leaguers.
Golf tourney Saturday
The 8th Annual Nancy Groff
Memorial Golf Tournament will be
held Saturday at the Hondo Golf
Course. Proceeds will go to scholar-
ships for local high school seniors.
For further details, see the related
story and ad in the sports section.
Kindergarten
registration set
Registration for Kindergarten-
age children will be held Tuesday,
April 27 at Meyer Elementary from
9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 to 3
p.m. (See story inside.)
New Postmaster
to be installed
Benny Gonzales Jr. will be
swom-in as Hondo Postmaster at
10 a.m. Tuesday, April 27, at the
Hondo Post Office.
The Hondo Radar Station reports the follow-
ing weather information for the past week:
Date
High Low
Rain
Wed., April 14
79
50
.02
Thu., April 15
74
40
.00
Fri., April 16
73
44
.00
Sat., April 17
80
56
.00
Sun., April 18
88
56
.00
Mon., April 19
89
63
.00
Tue., April 20
79
53
.00
Total rain for past week: 0.02 in.
Total rain for April: 0.23 in.
Total rain for 1993: 4.50 in.
Rainy days in 1993: 33
Avg. high temp, for the week: 80.3°
Avg. low temp, for the week: 51.8°
High temp, for 1993: 89°, on April 19
Low temp, for 1993: 26°, on Jan. 26
Rain in 1992, thru April 20: 14.27 in.
Rain in 1991, thru April 20: 8.13 in.
John Tondre
/ nominated to
U Nueces board
ille.
i John Tondre, format county
% commissioner from D'llanis, Mon
day was nominated by Commission-
ers Court for an appointment to the
Nueces River Authority hoard of di-
rectors.
“ 'Miitr ■ **'12' tondre also has received the
“ nomination of the Medina County
- ^ Underground Water Conservation
District board.
He is being nominated to fill the
.......... Mil
.......„ v
PHOTO BY JEFF BERGER
Dr. D. Lajda
joins Medical
Clinic staff
Dr. Dusan J. Lajda last week
joined the staff at Medical Clinic of
Hondo No. 1 and he came a long way
to get to Hondo, Texas.
A specialist in internal medicine
and with a subspecialty of diseases
of the kidney, Dr. Lajda began a
journey in present day Slovakia (for-
merly Czechoslovakia) which led
him to Hondo in a round about way.
He received his education and
medical training in Slovakia and
made his move to the United States in
1968.
He began his practice in this coun-
try in the State of Maryland in 1976
and remained there until 1980.
At that time, he moved to Pitts-
burg, Texas where he practiced until
making his move to Hondo.
He has taken medical exams for
certification in both these states.
When asked some of the reasons
why he chose Hondo, the doctor
thought awhile and smiled, "I’m still
wondering why Pittsburg."
However, he did say that a small
community is challenging and
Hondo did lie near a big city which
Both sides claim victory
in Richter, Schuehle lawsuit
can be visited. "Pittsburg had no
large town this near, and it got a little
lonely, especially after my two
daughters left for college."
He added he was interested in
working in a clinic where he can
practice as a practitioner.
His two daughters are Michaele
and Susan. Michaele is the eldest and
she has graduated from Mary Wash-
See DOCTOR. Page 16
A lengthy and highly publicized
court battle between Fred Richter
and insurance agent Clyde Schuehle
ended Friday when a jury delivered a
verdict Schuehle’s attorney consid-
ers a "total victory."
Richter s attorney also claimed to
have come out the winner.
"We feel like it is a very positive
verdict for Mr. Schuehle," said his
attorney, Debra Talley. "He was not
found liable for any fraud or decep-
tive trade practices which comprise
jf«---n out ofnhe eight allegations
made by the Richters.
"The jury found him negligent on
only one count, 1 believe because of
an incomplete file," she added, "and
awarded Richter $21,000. We feel
like it was an excellent verdict. The
jury worked very hard and did a great
job." She said she felt the jury be-
lieved that Schuehle did something
by not keeping a complete file, but
not something nasty.
"We had a lot of people step for-
ward and testify against Fred Richter
on the issue of credit and an expert in
insurance issues testified that what
Schuehle did was not wrong," said
the attornes.
She said she feels the result of the
trial was a verdict for the community.
"The community has taken a heck
of a beating in this case," she said,
referring to the negative publicity
that w.is generated.
The case dates back to the early
1980s. Richter alleged that Schuehle
filed a lawsuit against him for insur-
ance premiums he did not owe.
R ichter had filed the case in federal
court and it was dismissed. His ap-
peal was turned down. Prior to filing
the federal suit on the same facts, he
filed the lawsuit in district court.
In the suit Richter asked for dam-
ages of about $1.3 million. Some
$40,000 to $85,000 in attorney's fees
have been accumulated by the plain-
tiffs, according to varying reports.
Former Justice of the Peace H arold
Herring, who Richter charged had
falsified documents, was taken outof
the case on grounds of immunity. His
insurance company settled out of
court for an undisclosed amount on a
slander allegation.
" I'm glad it’s over. I'm glad I live in
Hondo and that people have enough
character to conic loiwoiu, said
Schuehle. "We got to tell our story."
Herring said he felt die same way.
"We were pleased thm mutters
involving Judge llerrine were
brought to light,' su'd v\ .ide
Caldwell, Richter's attorney-, ".-uni
we're pleased that the matters,''with
Mr. Schuehle were brought to light
and that he was found negligent. W<
had hoped he'd be found negligent on
other charges also.
"The defense objected to every-
thing we tried to put into evidence,
instead of letting the jury hear the
facts," said Caldwell.
"It is my feeling that the Richters
have done a service to the commu-
nity in persevering in this,” he said.
"It is important for people in the
community to find out what the j udge
and the insurance agent were doing.
"The Richters were the winners all
the way around," he added.
In reference to the monetary judg-
ment, Caldwell said, "We wished it
had been more, but we had left it up
to the jury to decide."
The Richters and their attorney are
considering the possibility of appeal.
Absentee voting
concludes Tuesday
A LONG TIME COMING... Dedication of a historical marker commemorating the 1842 Battle of Arroyo
Hondo was held Sunday afternoon. Pictured are members of the county Historical Committee who were
present (l-r) Oliver Reinhart, Lewis and Betty Boehle, Mutzie and.Charlie Suehs, Sue Reinhart, J. A. Rios,
and Mary and Henry Briscoe. Research on the project began in 1969 and the application was submitted in
1990. The marker overlooks a beautiful view of the Hondo Creek and rolling countryside.
City working on sewer plant problems
The City of Hondo will continue to
deal with sewer treatment plant prob-
lems until the new plant becomes
operational.
Water and Sewer Department head
Johnson asked the city to furnish
the electricity needed to pump water
Billy Johnson told City Council
members Tuesday that, since water
coming out of the plant is not of the
quality desired for discharge into the
stream, arrangements have been
made with a landowner to use the
excess water to irrigate his property.
Judge's salary turning up short from state
A state law passed last year has
Medina County coming out on the
shat end of the hom as far as salary
is concerned for County Court-at-
Law Judge Hugh Meyer.
The law proposed two options a
county could take in paying the
judge an extra $20,000 in salary.
First option would be they would
not do anything, such as placing a fee
on family law, civil and criminal
conviction cases, and therefore
would opt to pay the judge $1,000 a
year less than the district judge
draws. In the case of Medina County
that option would have raised the
judge's salary to approximately
$89,000 per year.
The second option was to charge
the fee and submit the money to
state. Medina County chose this op-
tion.
This route would have them re-
ceiving $2,500 each month from the
state. According to the law the state
would pay this amount regardless of
the amount of fee money returned by
the county.
If a county was over that amount,
then it would go in the pot to pay the
shortages of other counties and if the
county was short it would be the
recipient of the overages.
So far Medina County has paid out
$13,076.91 extra under this system
and has received $3,983.70 from the
state. This leaves the county short
$9,093.21.
The county actually budgeted an
extra $25,000, with the extra money
going for other expenses in the
Judge's office. It is being used for the
jury fund.
When the judge accepted the extra
$20,000 he took all as salary, thus
causing the county to have to pay all
fringe benefits on the extra $20,000
being paid to the judge.
County Judge Butch Campsey and
County Treasurer Rita Moos were
authorized to check at the state level-
-Comptroller's office-to see how the
See JUDGE, Page 16
onto the property. He said normally
the landowner pays the power fee for
the use of the water, but at this time
the city must get rid of the water and
the landowner has agreed to let it be
spread on his property. Council
members agreed.
Temporary biological treatments
supplied by Medina Agricultural
Products have proven effective in the
sewer plant, Johnson said, but the
sample supply will soon run out.
Council agreed to hear a presentation
at its next meeting regarding the
treatments. Medina Ag has supplied
approximately $1,600 worth of their
product for the test.
Joel Curtis, representing Medina
Ag, said the products are being used
in Las Vegas and other cities and are
working well.
Curtis also told the Council that
effluent from the prison, which in-
cludes solid matter, is the major
cause of the city's current sewer
problems. He said he and Johnson
have met with prison officials to at-
tempt to reduce the problems until
the larger capacity plant becomes
operational.
Absentee voting continues through
Tuesday for area voters in the races
for school board, city council, and the
statewide elections for senator and
constitutional amendments.
Tuesday is the final day for absen-
tee vodng in person. Friday is the ap-
plication deadline for a mail-in ballot.
The election date is Sat., May 1.
As of Wednesday morning, in the
statewide election, 247 Medina
County residents have cast ballots in
person. Of that number, 101 have
been in Hondo, 90 have been in
Devine, and 56 have been in Castro-
ville, where there is the added interest
of an emergency district election. An
additional 37 ballots have been
mailed out of the courthouse.
Absentee voting in the election for
U.S. Senator and the School Finance
Constitutional Amendments is taking
place in Hondo at the courthouse, and
in Castroville and Deyine at the
county buildings.
In the city races, where Hondo
voters will decide the mayorship and
two city council positions, 141 voters
have cast ballots in person, 115 more
have been mailed out and 52 applica-
tions had been turned in as of Wed-
nesday. Absentee voting isongoing at
City Hall, 1700 Avenue M, 8-5,
Monday through Friday.
A total of 69 absentee voters have
cast ballots at the HISD office, in the
two contested and one unopposed
single-member district race. Another
30 ballots have been mailed out.
Voting is Monday through Friday, 8-
4 at the HISD Administration.Build
ing, 2608 Avenue H.
McDowell expansion
enters planning stages
Citing the ever-increasing student
population in the Hondo ISD, the
school board voted Monday to au-
thorize plan developments for four
additional classrooms at McDowell
Junior High.
The board will ask Pfluger and
Associates to develop plans for the
additional structures. If all goes ac-
cording to plans, the additional space
will be ready for the second semester
of the 1993-94 school year.
The big increase in student enroll
ment will come from an unusually
large fourth grade class, which will be
entering McDowell next year.
Principal Vicente Arcos and Assis-
tant Principal Larry Carroll were
present, along with seven junior high
teachers, who voiced their approval
of the board's action.
On other matters, the board heard
from Mrs. Carolyn Harris, who
voiced dissatisfaction with the HISD
girls' athletic program.
Following up on her talk to the
board in the March meeting, Mrs
Harris presented graphs depicting
Hondo's record, compared with those
of opponents Devine, Medina Valley
and Bandera, in both basketball and
volleyball the past ten years.
She requested that a committee
consisting of teachers and parents be
formed to study the girls' athletic
program in the district.
Formation of such a committee,
though, would bejn violation of both
Texas Education Agency and Univer-
sity Interscholastic League policy.
*
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Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 22, 1993, newspaper, April 22, 1993; Hondo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth818214/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hondo Public Library.