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Board Report DeLeon I.S.D.

January 12, 2009

The De Leon Independent School District Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday evening, January 12.

The top agenda item was the recognition of the Board as a part of School Board Recognition month as proclaimed by Gov. Rick Perry. Each member received a canvas tote bag from the district as a token of appreciation.

SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH. January is School Board Appreciation Month and the Free Press took the opportunity to photograph the DeLeon Independent School Board members, Monday, January 12, just prior to their regular monthly meeting. Pictured left to right, back row, Brad Sanders, Dr. Brandon Gilmore, Superintendent Dr. Randy Mohundro; Daylon Whitehurst and Larry Womack. Front row, Lisa Nowlin, Becky Golden and Kelly Dickey.

The Board was then presented with the 2007-08 audit report from the district’s auditors of Auldridge & Griffin, P.C.

Woody Mathews represented the firm and presented the final report. The district received an unqualified opinion, the highest possible, meaning that the district’s financial records were all in order.

Overall, the district saw an increase in its fund balance of $279,348, meaning that the district spent less money last year than it actually received.

A district’s fund balance is similar to its savings account and is an indicator of the financial health of a district. A district with a healthy fund balance indicates that the district is in sound financial shape.

The increased fund balance was dedicated to facility improvements and future construction. The Board accepted and approved the audit report as presented.

The Board then reviewed the consent agenda as presented by the administration. In addition to the regular monthly items of financials and enrollment reports, the Board was briefed on several new improvements to the district.

The new voice over internet (VOIP) phone system has been installed and is totally operational. The new system will allow the district to realize a savings from using its wide area network for a portion of its telephone service. Funding for the new system was received from the Universal Service Fund.

The Board was also briefed on the new automated requisition system that the district is now using. The new system allows the district to come one step closer to fully automating its business system, district-wide.

For full article, subscribe to the DeLeon Free Press. E-mail edition is only $20/year.

Local Groundwater Conservation District May Soon Expand

By JERRY MORGAN, Reporter

A public notice published on page two of last week's newspaper read in part, "this is to give notice of intent to introduce in the 81st Texas Legislature...a bill relating to the administration, governance, elections, functions, powers and authority of the Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District."

That brief notice, however, provided no additional details.

AREA GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. Comanche and Erath Counties presently comprise the Middle Trinity GCD, identified above as 57. Mills County is in the Fox Crossing Water District (24). Lampassas County is in the Saratoga Underground Water CD (79), Coryell has the Tablerock GCD (95) authorized but not yet implemented, McLennan County (Waco) has the McLennan County GCD (94) authorized, Bell County is in the Clearwater UWCD(12), Tarrant County (Ft. Worth) is in the Northern Trinity GCD (60) and Montague, Wise, Parker and Hood Counties are forming the Upper Trinity GCD (87). Two of the state’s Groundwater Management Areas are shown. Comanche and Erath Counties are in Area 8. Bosque and Coryell Counties have expressed interest in being annexed into the Middle Trinity GCD. Thus far, Eastland and Hamilton Counties, two other logical additions, have not shown interest in joining or forming a groundwater conservation district, despite the State’s expressed preference that all areas of the state to be in one.

The Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District contains two counties, Comanche and Erath, and is responsible for conserving and protecting the groundwater resources in its area.

When Joe Cooper, the general manager of Middle Trinity GCD, came be our office later in the week to pick up publisher's affidavits that the required notice had been published, we took the opportunity to visit with him regarding the background and details of the proposed legislation.

Cooper stated, "The legislation that we'll be filing, a notice of which was put in your paper, is an effort to comply with Chapter 36 of the Water Code. It says a groundwater district can have no more than 11 directors. We've promised the new counties that have an interest in annexing, equal representation. We've got two counties now with three directors for a total of six. We add two more counties, that would put us at 12, one director over the statutory limit.

“So, we've got to redo our enabling legislation, which would be viewed as special legislation and supersede general Chapter 36 law. It will handle not only these annexations, but if counties in the future want to come join, we can accommodate them."

The two counties, Bosque and Coryell, have expressed strong interest in joining with the Middle Trinity GCD. Coryell County already had enabling legislation passed that would allow the formation of Tablerock GCD, although a required local election to authorize operations to begin has never been called.

For full article, subscribe to the DeLeon Free Press. E-mail edition is only $20/year.

Chamber of Commerce Banquet This Saturday

By LAURA KESTNER, Editor

The annual DeLeon Chamber of Commerce Banquet is scheduled for this Saturday, January 24, at Prado’s Restaurant, beginning at 7 p.m. The event theme this year is “Enthusiasm” according to Chamber Executive Director Linda Levens.

“We have such fun planned,” Levens said. “Not only are Eddie and Nellie cooking up some good food for us, but we will have a very special ‘surprise’ visiting entertainer.” According to Levens, the identity of the entertainer has been kept top secret, but when it’s over, people will be saying “I can’t believe he came to DeLeon.”

The guest speaker for the event will be Nicki Harle, the executive director for Texas Midwest Community Network. Harle oversees the daily operations of TMCN, coordinating all events, programs and projects sponsored by the organization. Harle, who has been described as a dynamic speaker, helps educate community leaders and civic organizations about TMCN and the importance of community development.

Levens said the banquet food this year will be exceptional.

“Eddie Prado and Jonathan will be grilling rib eyes on the smoker along with some chicken,” Levens said. “We will also be offering a salad bar and special deserts, like chocolate cheese cake. That is only part of the treat in store for everyone.” The cost for all this food, fun and frivolity is only $20 per person, and you do not have to be a Chamber member to attend -- everyone is welcome.

Levens said, in response to a rumor going around town, that the event is not semi-formal.

“I had said I would like for people to walk in and feel like they were attending their first prom -- as in pretty, not formal,” Levens said.

Levens laughingly noted that Dr. Randy Mohundro, the Chamber director who served as master of ceremonies last year, wanted everyone to know that he would not be speaking at all this year. “So he’s not going to tell any jokes,” she added.

The highlight of the evening will be the bestowing of the Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Business of the Year, Golden Deeds and Educator of the Year awards. Also, the newly-elected Chamber directors -- Ingrid Lindsey, Marlene Cox and Jimmy Farley -- will be introduced, as will the Junior Chamber directors.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please call 893-2083, or drop by the chamber office at 109 S. Texas Street.

Grand Jury Returns Indictments

The Comanche County Grand Jury met on January 16, 2009, and returned 21 indictments. Those that can be released at this time, include:

Ann Evans, DeLeon, Theft; Randy Dale Hamlin, Lucas, TX, Intoxication Manslaughter; Brian Keith Guthrie, Fort Worth, DWI; Alfredo Leal, Desdemona, Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon; Jason Grumbles, Comanche, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle; Jackie Lee Byrd, Comanche, Possession of Methamphetamine; Matthew Guerra, Comanche, Possession of Methamphetamine; Michelle Danette Nieman, Comanche, Possession of Methamphetamine; Juan Delgado, Brownwood, Possession of Marijuana; Regan Junea Rodden, Brownwood, Possession of Marijuana; Regan Junea Rodden, Brownwood, Possession of Methamphetamine, Michael Anthony Zuniga, Comanche, Possession of Methamphetamine; Joshua Blake Clark, Comanche, Possession of Methamphetamine; Nicholas Marquez, Comanche, Possession of Child Porn; Nicholas Marquez, Comanche, Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child; James Murphree, Sidney, Possession of Methamphetamine; Billy Swiney, theft; and Martin Lopez Murillo, DWI. (No hometown was provided for the last two names).

Danny Owen, the Mayor of De Leon, has a personal website.

Open Danny's website by Clicking Here

Scott Hall has creating an Internet website with history & photos of our town.

Click Here to visit his website

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