News

Cheering with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders is something most 10 year olds can only daydream about. For Mia Covarrubias, who has been cheering for two years with Razzle Dazzle, it became reality this summer. The 10-year-old fifth grader from Edna Elementary left Jackson County for the big city, along with her mother Stephanie, from July 14-18.
    The family, devoted Cowboys fans, were elated to sign her up for the five-day camp, where Mia learned routines from the world famous cheerleading team, practicing on the field the Cowboys play on.
    “I was with Emma and Janelle, but I got to meet a bunch of them,” she said, “and after camp was over we got to tour the cheerleaders’ locker room, and the football players’ locker room. Then we got to meet Rowdy, the mascot. It was great.”

    The Jackson County Memorial Hospital has begun to highlight local artists in the front foyer, and Rita Adelman has four pieces she’s recently finished up for display. Bill Jones, CEO and administrator, said many hospitals around the country use local artists to brighten the place up, and it seemed time for Jackson County to do the same.
     “This is a place of caring people, and whenever we have artwork here at the hospital, I think it shows that it’s a place of care. It brightens people’s day to see her work, and I think Rita has demonstrated the ability of many people in this community that have artistic talent, and that it can be shown in such a way that makes people happy,” Jones said. He added Adelman’s work has received many great comments from visitors and staff alike.

Industrial ISD trustees passed the 2014/2015 budget and adopted a tax rate for the same period when they met on Aug. 25.
    According to Superintendent Tony Williams, the $11,124,619 budget is balanced, reflecting an equal amount of projected revenue and expenses.
    Taxable values for 2014.2015 are $696,670,746.
    The tax rate was set at $1.24 per $100 of valuation, which includes $1.17 for maintenance and operating and $0.07 for interest and sinking, which is $0.02 lower than the 2013/2014 rate.
    The next regular board meeting will be Monday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.

There will be a garage sale 3 miles past Walmart at 3433 SH 111 N on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 5 and 6, from 8 a.m. until ? They have a little bit of everything so stop on out and see what you can find. (this was supposed to run in the paper, but accidentally was omitted, so be sure and go by!)

    Volunteer training for Hospice of South Texas will begin Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014 at its Victoria office, 605 E. Locust Avenue.         
    More volunteers, especially veterans and Spanish-speakers, are needed to support the Hospice of South Texas mission of giving comfort to patients and their families in the final months of life.
    The class will meet on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will run through Oct. 21.  This course is offered by Hospice of South Texas free of charge with all materials provided. Upon completion of the training, volunteers will be ready to companion patients and offer support to their family caregivers.
     If you would like to learn how you can make a difference in the life of someone, please consider attending this life-skills course by calling Judy Ledwig or Julie Legler in Volunteer Services, at (361)572-4300. Remember, veterans and Spanish-speaking individuals are especially encouraged to register and attend.

KC’s Bar in Ganado presented a $29,000 donation to Ron Kocian with the Warriors Weekend project on Aug. 16. This donation included sponsor, raffle, and auction money raised from the Warrior Weekend Bass and Crappie Tournament Fundraiser that was held on May 31. From left are Brian and Sandra Vonderau, Cari, Kyle, Kurt, and Kyla Stancik, and Ron Kocian. 

    Johan Slabbert and his daughter Rene Anderson are the people responsible for bringing a product never before sold in the United States right here to Jackson County. They’re called “Zippy Bikes,” and the father-daughter team is the sole distributer in the nation of the child’s toy.
    Their story begins in Zimbabwe, Africa, a tumultuous nation whose citizens face hyperinflation, forced land redistribution and human rights violations that the average U.S. citizen cannot begin to imagine. Formerly a farmer in the volatile nation, Slabbert says his family had no choice but to leave the grim situation. They are now scattered across the globe making new lives.
    “There are four of us in the family,” he said. “Two went to Australia, one resides in South Africa, and we got a green card and came to America.”

    Edna residents will have another chance to clean up and clean out this year.
    According to Sheila Miller, code enforcement officer for the city, a fall clean up has been set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at the city barn located on N. Kleas St.
    “This will be the first hazardous waste event we’ve held,” Miller said. “We will accept everything just like in the spring, like electronics, tires,  and large items that can’t be put out at the curb. We are also accepting hazardous waste which hasn’t been accepted before.”
    The hazardous waste disposal comes thanks to a $32,000 grant from Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission and TCEQ, which Miller said includes staffing to help unload and dispose of the waste and the paperwork that accompanies the effort.
    “Household hazardous waste is very costly to get rid of,” Miller said.

    Dialysis patients in the area will have to travel farther to receive treatment beginning Nov. 1. Patients were told in a letter last week that the DaVita Dialysis Center will close effective Oct. 31.
    The center is located on Hwy. 111 next to Walmart.
     As of June 30, 2014, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,119 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 168,000 patients.

According to the letter, the decision to close the Edna Dialysis Center was made because the center was unprofitable to a degree that couldn’t be corrected.
    Social workers at the center will provide patients with a list of dialysis providers in the area, but none are located in Jackson County.
    This could prove to be a hardship to many of its patients who receive dialysis there multiple times each week.

    Industrial ISD trustees passed the 2014/2015 budget and adopted a tax rate for the same period when they met on Aug. 25.
    According to Superintendent Tony Williams, the $11,124,619 budget is balanced, reflecting an equal amount of projected revenue and expenses.
    Taxable values for 2014.2015 are $696,670,746.
    The tax rate was set at $1.24 per $100 of valuation, which includes $1.17 for maintenance and operating and $0.07 for interest and sinking, which is $0.02 lower than the 2013/2014 rate.
    The next regular board meeting will be Monday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.