Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 9, 1999 Page: 2 of 32
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Hondo Area Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Hondo Public Library.
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Page 2, The Hondo Anvil Herald, Thursday, December 9,1999
Hondo Band Boosters
Hondo Band Boosters will meet
Monday, Dec. 13, 7 p m. at the
Band Hall
Band Christmas
Concert Tuesday
Catch the spirit of the holiday
season when the Hondo school
bands hold their annual Christmas
Concert Tuesday, Dec. 14, 7 p m.,
at the high school Activities
Center Performing will be the high
school and junior high choirs and
all bands -beginning, 6th grade,
McDowell concert and symphonic,
and the Owl Band. The concert is
free and everyone is invited.
New Fountain seniors
start monthly fellowship
On Dec. 14 New Fountain Young at
Heart Senior Citizens will start a
monthly fellowship hour at 11:30 a.m.
Bring a covered dish and have fun.
Yancey Baptists plan
children's program
On Sunday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m.,
Yancey Baptist Church will have a
children's Christmas program,
followed by refreshments.
Rotary collecting
toys for needy kids
Along with its Bikes for Tykes
program, the Hondo/D'Hanis
Rotary Club plans to distribute toys
to needy children. Anyone who
would like to contribute toys, new
or slightly used, may drop them off
at the Hondo Area Cham ber of
Commerce, 1802 Ave. M.
Library Story Time
Spend Wednesday mornings
with your child at the Hondo
Public Library. Enjoy storytelling,
puppets, and crafts. For informa-
tion, call the library, 426-5333.
Rehab rep to be at chamber
office Tuesdays
A Texas Rehabilitation Commis-
sion representative will be at the
Hondo Area Chamber of Com-
merce office conference room each
Tuesday beginning at 9 a m. The
rep offers a wide array of help for
the disabled, from finding a job to
other rehabilitation needs.
Prom planning group
meeting this evening
Junior class members and all
parents are encouraged to attend a
Prom Planning meeting Thursday
(tonight) at 8 p.m. in the high
school library. Purpose of the
meeting is to select various
committees.
Koinonia Emmaus Gathering
A Koinonia Emmaus Gathering
will be held Friday, Dec. 10, at
Lakehills United Methodist
Church at 7:30 p.m. Anyone who
has attended a Walk to Emmaus,
Cursillo or Chrysallis is invited to
join us for real Christmas Spirit!
Castroville Market Trail
Castroville will host its monthly
Market Trail event Saturday, Dec.
11, on Houston Square from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. In addition, the bloodmo-
bile will be there from 1:30 to 3
p.m. For information, call John,
830-741-3841
New Fountain Cemetery
Perpetual Care to meet
New Fountain Cemetery
Perpetual Care, Inc., will hold its
annual meeting Sunday, Dec. 12,
following the Sunday morning
worship service at New Fountain
United Methodist Church.
Living nativities planned
Area residents have three
opportunities to attend "living
nativity" events this coming week.
On Sunday, Dec. 12, D'Hanis
Holy Cross invites you to attend
The Living Nativity, at 7 p.m. on
the grounds in front of Holy Cross
Catholic Church. Music will be
provided by the Folk Choir.
First United Methodist Church,
Hondo, will present their Living
Nativity on two evenings, Dec. 12
and 13,7:30 p.m.
Flu shots to be given
The Medina County Health Unit
will offer immunizations and flu
shots only on Monday, Dec. 13,8-
11 and 1-4 p.m. For your conve-
nience, appointments may be made
for the hours of 7-8 a.m. and 5-6
p.m. on this day. Staff of the health
unit will be working at other sites
within Medina County on all other
dates and will not be available to
provide immunizations except as
listed above.
Regular
Hondo Garden Club
Hondo Garden Club will meet
Friday, Dec. 10, I" noon, at the
First Baptist Church, Hondo
Members shouldering a white
elephanlfexchanm gift and a tray
favor fotwursing home residents.
Eastern Star tea
Eunice Zuckero, worthy matron,
and John Wentz, worthy patron, of
Hondo Chapter #404, Order of the
Eastern Star, cordially invite all
Eastern Star members and their
spouses to a Christmas tea. Sunday,
Dec. 12. from 2 to 4 p.m. in the
home of Mrs Zuckero on Faseler
Road in Yancey.
VFW Post 3891
The monthly meeting of Hondo
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
3891 will be held Tuesday evening
Dec. 14, 7 p.m., at the post home at
the airport. Refreshments, includ-
ing meal and drinks, will be served
starting at 6 p.m. All veterans are
invited to attend.
Woodmen Rangers
Woodmen of the World Ranger
Lodge 4533 will hold its December
meeting and Christmas party
Saturday. Dec 18, 6:30-9 p.m.
The meeting will be held at St.
Joseph's Catholic Church in
Devine, Room No. 4, 108 S.
Washington, off Hwy. 173.
Hondo TOPS
Hondo TOPS (Take Off Pounds
Sensibly) Chapter meets each
Thursday, 6:30 p.m.. Community/
Senior Center, 1004 18th St.
Trust fund set up
for Vincent Lopez
A trust fund has been established
at D'Hanis Stale Bank, account No.
2022283, for three-year-old Vincent
Lopez, son of Issac and Esther
Lopez of D'Hanis. Vincent has been
diagnosed with leukemia.
Trust fund benefits
Travis Van Damme
A trust fund has been set up for
Travis Van Damme, 3-ycar-old son
of Brian and Nancic Van Damme to
help offset medical expenses. If you
would like to help, stop by Commu-
nity National Bank or call Cindy
Taylor at 426-3066.
HEC coordinates airbase clean-up in private
i
By William Hoover
Anvil Hlrald Cor respondent
The Hondo Empowerment Com-
mittee (HEC), led by Jim Ferguson
and Chavel Lopez, held a closed door
meeting in City Hall on Nov. 4. The
meeting's purpose was to air evidence
of contamination at Horfdo Municipal
Airport and to coordinate the clean-
up efforts of all interested parties.
Attendees of the meeting included
representatives of the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the Texas
Natural Resources Conservation
Commission (TNRCC), the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, the office
of State Representative Tracy King,
and the office of State Senator Frank
Madia. Also present were City Envi-
ronmental Consultant Kyle Chapman,
City Engineer Bob DeOtte, and City
Building Inspector Bill Hall.
Although the contents of the meet-
ing were public, HEC president Jim
Ferguson turned press members away
from the meeting Hall acted as secu-
rity for HEC denying access of the
meeting to the press “That’s what I
was told to do," said Hall. “HEC was
hosting the meeting and they asked me
to not allow anyone in. They did not
want me there, but the City Manager
convinced them." Mayor Jim Barden
was also not invited to the meeting.
Because of the city’s earlier fail
ure to cooperate, TNRCC filed en-
forcement actions against Hondo to
make the city take immediate correc
live action in cleaning up documented
contamination on airport property.
The HEC-sponsored meeting was an
attempt to take advantage of the
TNRCC pressure to ensure a prompt
and proper clean-up of the airport.
“We didn’t want politicians or the
press there, just the agencies,” ex
plained Ferguson. "It was our meet
ing and we didn’t want any of the
notoriety or negativity associated with
HEC to influence the meeting. It was
a matter of getting the various agen
cies together. Sometimes, the left hand
doesn't know what the right is doing
so we were trying to help coordinate."
Community Calendar
paid for by f
Hondo Area Chamber of Commerce
Dec. 12- Holy Cross CY0 Living Nativity, 7 p.m., church
grounds
• CCHA meeting, 2 p.m., Medina Valley dunior High *
auditorium.
Dec. 12-13-First United Methodist Church Living Nativity, 7:30
corner of Ave. K and 16th St
Congratulations, HONDO OWLS, on an
outstanding season! We’re proud of you!
To place your event on this calender, call the
Hondo Chamber of Commerce at 830-426-3037
Poinsettias and
Norfolk Pines are in!
Order centerpieces and
arrangements for your home,
gifts, or to be sent out-of-town.
Remember our Home Interior and
Christmas Around the World gift lines.
Need a Bow? Bring in your ribbon or
buy ours, we’ll make your bows FREE, no matter
the size or number needed.
Owbugou were FANTASTIC in'991
thanks ficxr giving us a Good Yearlii
FLOWERS & MORE
2002 Ave. M * 426-2250 • 1-800-858-8877
According to Ferguson, the meet-
ing produced positive results and
created a new spirit of cooperation.
The City Manager was delighted
with the results. Apparently, fomier
City Manager Scott Wall had unfin-
ished business with TNRCC. We
may have eased that situation. There
should now be a better understand-
ing among all the groups."
Ferguson said the HEC plans to fol-
low up on funding possibilities for
contamination site clean-up in three
to four months. “It s terribly bureau-
cratic,” said Ferguson, referring to
coordination of the clean-up efforts.
“If we get anything done, it will be a
plus. This affects the whole commu-
nity. It’s not a racial issue. Our goal is
to acquire federal super-fund money
to clean up the polluted sites. It ap-
pears Hondo is at the top of the list.”
During the meeting, the history of
the airfield contamination was de-
tailed in an October 1990 report by
the U.S. Army's Corps of Engineers.
The U.S. Government acquired the
3,662.93 acres for the airbase in
March 1942. In January 1946. the
airfield was declared excess to the
War Assets Administration (WAA).
The WAA sold a portion of the
former base to Universal Rundle,
sold the former officer’s housing
complex to private individuals, and
deeded the remainder of the base to
the City of Hondo in I948. From
I95I through 1958, Texas Aviation
Industries (TAD leased the majority
of the former base and contracted
with the U.S. Government to train pi-
lots. The history notes that one fuel
farm was constructed under the TAI
lease time frame to facilitate the fu-
eling of Air Force planes. In I959,
Hayes International Corporation
took the lease and began repairing
and maintaining Air Force aircraft.
The city began leasing land to Gary
Aircraft in 1965. Gary primarily over-
hauled Air Force engines and occasion-
ally an entire airplane. In 1984, Gary
Aerospace Corporation purchased
Gary Aircraft and continued to perform
aircraft repairs for the Air Force.
Regarding Containerized Hazard-
ous and Toxic Waste (CON/HTW),
the 1990 report concluded that a pos-
sible 23 underground storage tanks
(USTs) with associated pipe lines
and 42 concrete vaults were still bur-
ied on airport property.
The documented history presented
at the meeting revealed that organi-
zational and communication mix-ups
had made it unclear which corrective
actions, if any, were taken by the Air
Force, the Corps of Engineers, and/
or Hondo. Thus, the reason and need
for the meeting. Work on the pollu-
tion clean-up has been intermittent
and piecemeal since 1990, with sev-
eral USTs removed over the years as
they were discovered. Records indi-
cate the Corps of Engineers removed
a UST near the hangar used by Rusty’s
Flying Service as recently as March.
After the meeting, the collection
of agency representatives toured the
airbase to look at various contami-
nation sites and to determine what
changes have occurred since the base
was last inspected. HEC representa-
tives showed the delegation the ditch
north of the air field, which they call
“Hondo’s Love Canal,” and in-
spected pollution sites on the still
contaminated air base.
The outcome of the HEC spon-
sored gathering is a renewed rela-
tionship between the city and
TNRCC which will translate into
action, according to City Manager
David Chavez. ‘The meeting was
very beneficial to the city,” said
Chavez. “It was an open forum and
we had two way dialog. That is not
how it was in the past.”
“The EPA will be sending in a
team to conduct expensive and ex-
tensive soil tests at selected sites
sometime in March," said Chavez.
“Because the pollution is on a former
Air Force base, we are high on their
list of priorities. Based on the test-
ing, the EPA will determine the pre-
ferred clean-up procedure. If they
find a lot of contamination, the city
can get super-fund money and
TNRCC will have a baseline of the
situation out here.” Chavez says a
baseline is needed to help determine
how much of the contamination was
caused by the military before Hon-
do took responsibility for the land.
Chavez explained Hondo's pre-
dicament and new cooperative strat-
egy. “We have two enforcement ac-
tions against the city. One is for the
water tank they want brought up to
standards. The second is because of
missing aircraft engine crates which
turned up missing from the location
used by Gary Aerospace. They were
full of contaminants and TNRCC
wants to know where they are.”
“Under Scott Wall, the city had an
opportunity to pay an administrative
fine and clean up the contamination,”
said Chavez. “But because the city
failed to cooperate, TNRCC issued
the enforcement actions. Under en-
forcement action, all negotiations are
ceased. The city must cooperate with
TNRCC by taking action to remediate
the air base or face being taken to
court in Travis County. Going to court
is not an option the city prefers.”
“If we lose in court, we have to pay
the fine, attorney fees, court costs, and
we would still have to remediate the
soil. Even if we win we have to pay
attorney’s fees. We want to avoid
court action and keep this on an ad-
ministrative level so the only cost will
be clean up remediation,” said
Chavez. "The (HEC) meeting helped
with that by re-establishing our rela-
tionship with TNRCC.”
PROM
CONTINUED I ROM PAGE /
Commerce's parties." she said.
“Have you contacted (Nufie) Rod-
riguez to purchase a $ 15,000 floor?"
Ytuarte asked "My concern is that
we have facilities in town to hold
such events and the same floor you
propose that we buy can he bought
for the Activities Center."
Ytuarte tried to sell the students
on history,
to be hostalgit
it (at school), we have to ask why.
Boubel again spoke for the stu-
dents who seemed surprised by the
opposition to their plea. "The stu-
dents were excited about using the
new building and Mrs. (Rali) Taylor
suggested tt,” said Boubel. Raly Tay-
lor is the widow of Rick Taylor, for
whom the center was named.
Rec Center Dilfcctor Nufie Rodri-
guez then showed council samples
of protective floor coverings rang-
ing in price from $2,(KX) to $10,000.
“The Covermaster, the one I favor,
has unlimited use," said Rodriguez.
After viewing tjie samples, Ytuaite
aggressively protected the city’s in-
vestment in the current floor. “My
main concern is not what it allows, but
the damage it might do to the existing
floor. There is a damage factor with
any cover you lay down. A high heel
can puncture the gym floor,” he said.
Councilwoman Tima Barrientes did
not hold back on her disapproval of
the request. “I graduated not too long
ago,” said Barrientes. "I know what
happens. You talk, dance, mingle, and
then you drive into San Antonio to
drink. Why spend $9,000 for an hour
and a half. After that, you’ll get in your
limos and drive to San Antonio.”
Rothe had an answer for Barri-
entes. ‘To try to attract more students
to stay at the prom in Hondo instead
of going into San Antonio and drink-
ing and partying,” said the student.
Council member Judy Winkler
spoke in favor of the student proposal.
“I think it is a great idea. The recre-
ation center is for the kids. We need to
make this work somehow for the kids.”
“Dancing is a recreation,” said the
Mayor. “I thought it (a cover) would
encourage as much use as possible.
I Bu» >1!« 8 atf
[ it is up to the council to decide.”
Ytuarte yielded slightly in his po-
sition. “We need to test it or the
school can test it. But we have an ex-
pensive floor.”
Boubel offered to use student la-
bor to set up the floor in hopes of
increasing the students’ chances at
winning approval.
“The concern is the potential dam-
age,” repeated Ytuarte. “Is there a
roll-out type, like I see in gyms
throughout the nation? It’s going to
sweat what ever you put down.”
Cuellar also said he was concerned
about the risk to the floor.
Barden said his concern was
whether or not the city could get the
right type of cover without paying
an outrageous price. “Are we inter-
ested enough to have Nufie shop
around?" Barden asked council.
Ytuarte then volunteered council
member Ed Stiteler for the job. “If
Stiteler will accept the duty, I pro-
pose he go with Rodriguez to look
at floors.”
Winkler made a motion to compare
different floor coverings. Before the
motion could be seconded Barrientes
asked if the school could pay half the
costs. “But we are not talking about
just the school,” said Stiteler.
Ytuarte said he would not coo|ier-
ate unless the'school made a contri-
bution to the purchase. “In lieu of
mat, I say nobticausel don’t want to
turn the recreation center into another
dance hall.”
“I hate to encourage anything not
suitable," said Cuellar.
“We will not consider anything
unsuitable,” said Winkler.
Barden tried to bring council to a
vote. “The young people who want to
have a prom have asked us to use the
recreation center. We did build it so the
school could use it for tournaments.”
Ytuaite protested. “You are talk-
ing 200 people, tables, chairs, etc.
That’s what the convention center
and bam are for.”
Winkler made a motion to autho-
rize the city manager to report back
on expenses, materials, and cost.
Stiteler seconded the motion.
To the disappointment of the still
standing students, the motion failed,
3-2, as Barrientes, Cuellar, and Ytu-
aite refused to explore the request.
HERMANN SONS
STEAK HOUSE
Located one mile east of Hondo on US 90 • 426-2220
51
LUNCH SPECIALS *5« *"£’£$8f
Tuesday - Alvin’s Pepper Steak
with choice of potato, and soup or salad bar
Wednesday - Beef Tips with noodles
with green beans almondine & soup or salad bar
Thursday - Chicken Chalupas
with rice & beans
Friday - Fried Shrimp or Catfish
with choice of potato, and soup or salad
weekly SIMMs
Cordon Bleu Sandwich w/chlps .................*4.69
>' Spicy Jack Chicken Sandwich w/chips____________......*4.69
Chicken Fried Steak............................................. *5.75
Grilled Chicken Breast---------------------.-----------------*5.75
CONVENTION
CENTER
CONTINUED FROM PAGE I
if there is a contract, we have it in
front of us. I’m put off that we don’t
have it.”
The contract had no surprises in it
which had not been previously dis-
closed, prompting Ytuarte to com-
ment on the utilities. "They need to
pay utilities,” said Ytuarte. “We don’t
let anyone else have freebies.”
Barden called for a vote and the
purchase passed, 4-1. Judy Winkler
cast the lone dissenting vote.
In other business, council refused
a request from Bill Strait for reim-
bursement of costs to install utilities
for house plots in the new Green
9!
HONDO ANVIL HERALD
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POSTMASTER: Scad addraaa ctaget toe The
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Telephone: (830) 426-3346
ifi
Meadows subdivision. Strait was
seeking approximately $6,700 which
he says the city is contractually ob-
ligated to pay becatlse of a 1986ease-
ment agreement with property own-
ers D.V. and Alma Day.
Council elected to purchase five
new vehicles for various city depart-
ments. Cecil Atkission Ford won the
bid to provide the city with two police
squad vehicles at $19,671 each. The
city purchased an extended warranty
for the high-use cars at an extra cost
of $3,225. Atkission Ford also won the
bid for two new ‘/2-ton pick-ups at
$15,137 per truck. Jack Winkler Mo-
tors had the winning bid to.provide the
city with a V«-ton pick-up at $18,567.
Council voted to accept new Pub-
lic Utilities Commission regulations
regarding right of way charges for
electric service lines. “It is new leg-
islation,” explained Barden. “We are
not voting on whether it is good or
not, but to file with the PUC.”
City Treasurer Ronnie Rand as-
sured council the legislation (HB
1777) would not reduce Hondo’s
electric revenues.
EMS respond to Medina
Valley Junior High
On Tbesday, Dec. 8, a student at
Medina Ydley Junior High was caught
sharing prescription medication with
other students. Staff at the school
called Medina Valley EMS.
Four students were subsequently
transferred to Methodist hospital in
San Antonio for treatment. All four arc^
reportedly doing well.
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Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 9, 1999, newspaper, December 9, 1999; Hondo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth819622/m1/2/?q=music: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hondo Public Library.