News Archives - December 2008

Fire Destroys Home on South 6th
12/30/2008
A home at 203 South 6th in Ballinger, owned by Kristin Martinez, is a total loss following a fire Monday night.

A 43 year-old burn victim was taken to Ballinger Memorial Hospital, then transferred to a Lubbock hospital.

According to Fire Chief Brent Allen, the cause of the fire has not been determined at this time.

Travis, Rodriguez, Egan, Chapman and Kalina Named All-West Texas
12/27/2008
The San Angelo Standard-Times newspaper has named it's All-West Texas 2A Team and Ballinger's Tucker Travis, Slade Egan, Garrett Chapman, Nathan Kalina and Matt Rodriguez made the cut.

The paper had this to say about Travis: "Despite missing time due to an injury, Tucker completed 66 percent of his passes for 1,790 yards for the district champion Bearcats and also rushed for 230 yards and eight more touchdowns. He was named the Offensive MVP of District 7-2A."

They said this about Rodriguez: "Rodriguez was the District MVP of 7-2A, and it's easy to see why after he did a little of everything for the Bearcats on offense, defense and special teams. He was most dangerous at receiver, where he caught 37 passes for 561 yards."

They said this about lineman Egan: "Egan was a first-team all-District 7-2A selection. He had 20 cuts and graded out at 86 percent this season."

On the defensive side of the ball, they said this about lineman Garrett Chapman: "Chapman was an all-district selection on the offensive line, but he really shone on defense as well, with 70 tackles, including 10 for a loss with 4.5 sacks and two caused fumbles."

These were the comments about defensive back Nathan Kalina: "Kalina was named the Defensive MVP of District 7-2A after a season in which he had 73 tackles and three interceptions. As a receiver on offense, he caught 32 passes for 532 yards."

Brady football coach Glen Jones was named Coach of the Year for his work in turning around the Brady program in the past two seasons.

Runnels Co. Commissioners to Meet Monday
12/26/2008
A special meeting of Runnels County Commissioners will be held at 11:00am Monday, December 29, in the county courthouse.

The purpose of the meeting is to consider adopting a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the M.S. Doss Foundation, Inc. on behalf of the Ballinger Senior Citizen's Center.

Help Needed for Winters Family
12/26/2008
During this season of giving, you can help give to a needy family in Winters. Danny Reel and his daughter, Becky, lost their home and possessions in a fire. Friends are pitching in to help. If you have furniture to donate, call Lupe Guevara at 754-5445. If you would like to donate food and clothing, take donations to DLC Realty on South Main. Clothing sizes are 2X for Danny and women's size 2X for Becky.

Ballingernews.com Gets New Owner
12/24/2008
As of December 23, 2008, Ballingernews.com has changed ownership.  Jason and Joanna Gore of Ballinger have purchased the site and will be taking over it's operation and sales. 

We, Randy and Kathy Turner, would like to thank everyone for their support in the start of this venture.  It's an exciting beginning for a new chapter of media for Runnels County.  We believe that the Gores will take the site and "run with it!"   We hope you will continue to send information to be added to the site, and that you will continue to read it and support it's growth.  We know it will become the number one news source in Ballinger!  Good luck Jason and Joanna! 

Ballinger ISD Regular School Board Meeting Agenda
12/19/2008
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 5:30pm
A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Ballinger ISD will be held January 6, 2009, beginning at 5:30 PM in the BISD Administration Building, 802 Conda Ave, Ballinger, Texas 76821.
The subjects to be discussed or considered or upon which any formal action may be taken are as listed below. Items do not have to be taken in the order shown on this meeting notice.
1.  Personnel (This item requires a closed meeting as authorized by Section 551.001through 551.146 of the Texas Government Code)
     A. Discussion of Superintendent Evaluation
2.  Action, if any, of Matters Discussed in Closed Session

Holiday Hours Announced at Runnels County Tax Office.
12/19/2008
The Runnels County Tax Office plans to close at noon Wednesday, December 24th and not re-open until Monday, December 29th, for the Christmas holiday.

Rowena Bank Robber Sought
12/17/2008
Authorities were searching for a man who robbed the Rowena branch of West Texas State Bank.
Read the store HERE as reported by the San Angelo Standard-Times.
 

Look at what has been discovered!
12/16/2008
Thank you Dana Travis for doing some "digging" for us and discovering this amazing photo! This photo is of the Turner Falls Indian, which is the same as our Indian, who overlooked Turner Falls lake in Oklahoma. This is the only frontal, clear, detailed view as of yet that we have been able to find or be given.  My wish is that the mere image of our Indian will spark many fond memories and stories and that you as the reader will write them down for us to be forever recorded in our book that we have decided to title "A Friend Not Forgotten", The Story of Friend the Indian of Indian Hill.

New Rental Agreements for BISD Facilities
12/15/2008
Ballinger ISD Board of Trustees approved new rental agreements for Ballinger ISD facilities. Please contact Janna Halfmann at 365-3588 (Ext. 1007) if you are interested in renting Ballinger ISD facilities.

Winters Pedestrian Killed
12/12/2008
A newspaper delivery contractor for the San Angelo Standard-Times, who delivered the paper in Winters, was reportedly hit and killed by a pickup near Winters Wednesday afternoon.

According to a San Angelo Department of Public Safety report, Donald Dunstan, 53, of Winters was pronounced dead at the scene. He was apparently walking along FM 1677 when struck from behind by a Ford pickup driven by Robert Holder of Winters.

The accident happened around 1:40pm.

Ballinger FFA Win Awards
12/10/2008
The Ballinger FFA was represented by some students in Coleman Monday night in the Big Country District Banquet. The BHS FFA received 5 awards and a 5th place Sweepstakes. This is the first sweepstakes since 2004. There were fifteen schools that competed for the sweepstakes. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Molitor)
 

Runnels Co. Commissioners to Meet Tuesday
12/8/2008
County Commissioners will meet at 10:00am Tuesday, December 9, in the Runnels County Courthouse. After calling the meeting to order and receiving matters of business from the audience, the following agenda items will be addressed:

Audit County Treasurer’s accounts and consider approval of Auditor’s and Treasurer’s Report and take action.

Consider approving payment of all current accounts and ratifying payment of any accounts that have been pre-approved between court dates by members duly appointed by the Runnels County Commissioners Court and take action.

Consider approval of Tax Collector’s monthly report and take action.

Open and consider bids for a water truck and take action.

Consider application of Horse Hollow Generation Tie, LLC/Hilliard Energy Ltd. for utility transmission line crossing county roads in Precinct No. 1/Precinct No. 2 and take action.

Consider approval of bonds for William Baird, Sheriff; Robin Burgess, Tax Collector; Robert Moore, Commissioner, Precinct #1; James T. Self, Commissioner, Precinct #3;and Stuart Holden, County Attorney; and take action.

Consider approval of Continuation Certificate of bond for Natalie Lange, Assistant County Auditor, and Continuation Certificate for Blanket Crime Bonds for the Sheriff’s Office and the County Clerk’s Office and take action.

Consider entering into Contract and Agreement between Runnels County and the Carnegie Library of Ballinger and take action.

Consider entering into Contract and Agreement between Runnels County and the Winters Public Library and take action.

Consider entering into Firefighting Agreement between Runnels County and the Rowena Volunteer Fire Department and take action.

Consider approval of the 2008 Sub-Recipient Agreement between the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management and Runnels County for homeland security grant funds and take action.

"The Mystery of Indian Hill"  -  UPDATE
12/8/2008  by Cinnamon Carter
Our person of interest might be “bodily missing”, but what I have learned over the past few weeks is that the Spirit of “Friend” the Indian is still very much alive and well in the memories of many in this community and surrounding communities. I want to encourage you as you read this article to write down any memories, no matter how small, and send them to me! I have learned that “Friend” was more than just a statue put in the park to beautify it. He became the holder of secrets of love to shy to be told, of loves lost and hearts broken, and a place to go to be with friends. As one dear lady told me last week, “We knew we could tell him our deepest secrets and that they would be safe with him”.

I am not from Ballinger, but have honestly enjoyed hearing the stories and learning about the history of the town I now call home. I also realize just how important it is to record and preserve the history of our town’s vibrant past. Hence, the title that I have given to our project, “The Past Collected, Written to Remember”. For many of you, your faces light up when you recall a time when the world was maybe a little sweeter and a little more simple. A time when your youth was in full bloom and you had your whole life ahead of you. The sixth grade class and I as their teacher, want to record and preserve the memories of those who lived them and cherish them for those, like myself, who can only read about them.

As far as the latest entry in our journal, I have been in contact with the “Daily Ardmoreite” which is the newspaper in Ardmore, Oklahoma. I have been talking with the Education Writer for the paper and she has been wanting to do a feature article on something and said that our story would be perfect! I am excited about this development and am hopeful of it lending information about the history of our “Friend” long before he came to call Ballinger his home. I was asked by the writer, Ms. Lindsey, where I was hoping to go with this whole project. I told her simply this, “To be honest, I have no idea! This all kind of happened by a different series of events and has currently evolved in to what it now is”. I also told her that my ultimate hope, in my sometimes rose-colored world I tend to live in, is that through the “Ardmoreite” articles in Oklahoma, we, by some miracle, find another “Friend” and bring it back to Ballinger to once again grace the hillside. If not to find another “Friend”, I would love to see our project come to fruition in the form of another statue being designated in honor of the “Friend” that was lost. Those ideas, yes, are dreams that the kids and I have talked about in class, but oh what fun it is to wish and dream!  I can tell you this, we will be compiling all of the stories, facts, and pictures that we can manage to collect and be publishing a book that will be housed in the Ballinger Junior High and High School libraries as well as a copy for the Carnegie Library. I once again will leave you with my email - cinnamon.carter@ballingerisd.net and my address PO Box 231, Ballinger, TX 76821 and ask that you please take a moment and write down your memories and allow my students and myself to record and preserve them for you for all those who come after us and just happen to hear one day of one special Indian who so many years ago touched the lives of so many on “Indian Hill”.

Coach Brevard to Resign
12/7/2008
A story in the San Angelo Standard-Times Saturday reports that Ballinger athletic director and head football coach, Brent Brevard, will resign from his post. Brevard leaves Ballinger after four years as head football coach with two playoff appearances and a Bearcat record of 26-17.

Read the story here: http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/dec/06/ballinger-football-coach-to-resign/.

The Ballinger Chamber's Upcoming Events....
12/3/2008
We will have a ribbon cutting at Apples-N-Spice Florist Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 at 12:00p.m.

Moonlight Madness will be Dec 11th from 5:30-9:00 the downtown businesses will be staying open late and you can get your picture made with Santa at 1st Community Federal Credit Union. There will be a registration box left at each Chamber Member Business you can enter to win $150 in Ballinger Bucks or $75 in Ballinger Bucks.

The House Lighting and Best Dressed Window Contest will be judged on Dec 15th with results announced on Dec. 16th.  Please submit in writing your name and address or Business name and address to either coc@ballingertx.org, or send to P.O. Box 577, or drop off to 700 Railroad Ave. 1st Place will receive $100, 2nd Place will receive $75, and 3rd Place will receive $50 in Ballinger Bucks.

Also, we are now accepting entries for the Art Exhibit that will be held on January 18th from 2:00-5:00pm at the Carnegie Library. This will be called Community at the Carnegie, the show will be hosted by the Ballinger Chamber of Commerce and the Mid-West Texas Artist Guild. Entry fee will be $5.00 per artist and we will also be accepting silent auction donations. All proceeds will go to the Library. We are accepting entries from students as well as all adults in the community and surrounding community. Please contact the Ballinger Chamber at 325-365-2333 to enter. This will be a fund raising opportunity for the Library.

Minzenmayer a Finalist for State Award
12/3/2008
Paul Minzenmayer is a 27 year-old farmer from Rowena and has been chosen as a finalist for the 2008 Texas Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher Award. The winner will be announced during the Farm Bureau State Convention in Corpus Christi December 6-8.

The other two finalists are from Carson County and Victoria.

First Baptist Church to Hold Advent and Christmas Eve Services
12/3/2008
First Baptist Church invites everyone to our Advent and Christmas Eve Services. Our Sunday morning services are at 10:30am and the evening services are 6:00pm.   The church is located at 400 N. 8th Street. For more information, call the church office at 365-3565.
             December 7 is the second Sunday in Advent. The 2nd candle represents Christ's death on the cross. The theme will be Joyful Singing. The evening worship will be the children's program.
            December 14 is the third Sunday in Advent The 3rd candle represents Christ's Resurrection.  The theme is Joyful Giving. The Adult Choir will present the Christmas Musical "The Gift Goes On" in the morning worship service.            
            December 21 is the fourth Sunday in Advent The 4th candle represents Christ's Return. The theme is Joyful Knowing; knowing we are saved by grace and He is coming again.
            December 24 ~ Our Christmas Eve candlelight Lord's Supper service will be at 6:00 PM. We will light the Christ Candle in this special time of worship.

Meat Processors Ready for Hunting Season and Deer Donations
10/28/2008
Meat processors across the state are gearing up to welcome hunters from far and wide. With the general hunting season for white-tailed deer set to start November 1, 2008 in the majority of Texas counties, many meat processors will not only assist hunters with their custom processing needs, but will also provide an outlet to donate extra venison through the Texas Hunters for the Hungry program.

Last hunting season, hunters donated more than 178,000 pounds of meat to the Texas Hunters for the Hungry program through 98 participating meat processors in 71 counties. Coleman County donations totaled 8,320 pounds last season.

Venison continues to be a welcome protein source at food pantries, soup kitchens, churches, and shelters. The donated meat helps agencies stretch their budgets and is a favorite among their recipients. Individuals and families that receive the meat are excited to be able to supplement their meals with venison; many go for months without any meat at all.

Be part of the solution to hunger. For a complete list of participating meat processors, visit www.tacaa.org/hunters.htm . Interested hunters can take legally harvested deer to a participating meat processor, who will process and package the meat for a nominal fee to help cover basic costs. Meat processors make arrangements with local food assistance agencies to distribute the meat to people in the community who need food. In Coleman County, deer can be donated at Halls Custom Packing in Coleman.  In Runnels County, deer can be donated at Owen's Deer Processing in Ballinger.


If the processor you use is not on the list, encourage them to join by contacting program staff during business hours Monday - Friday at (800) 992-9767, extension 506. Monetary donations to support the program are always welcome. See the website for details.