The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 1, 1988 Page: 1 of 6
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Odem Area Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Odem Public Library.
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"Established
June 25, 1948'
Volume XXXIX
Thursday, September 1,1988 — 6 Pages — No. 35
Odem, Texas 78370
Commissioners' Court
Approves Tax Moratorium
Mayors, city councilmembers,
school board trustees and represen-
tatives from the business communi-
ty gathered before the San Patricio
County Commissioners’ Court Mon-
day to offer input on proposed
guidelines for granting a tax
moratorium to business and in-
dustry.
A tax moratorium would provide a
“waiting period” before the re-
quired payment of property taxes
and would attract business and in-
dustry to San Patricio County.
“Any incentive we could create to
get more industry in our county is
needed,” said Commissioner Carl
Duncan.
The commissioners proposed to of-
fer the tax moratorium to businesses
f on new improvements only.
After much discussion, the court
decided to offer a tax moratorium of
100 percent during a period of con-
struction for up to two years.
A graduated scale would then be
implemented to allow a moratorium
of 100 percent during the first year of
operation, 100 percent for the second
year, 75 percent for the third year, 50
percent for the fourth year and 25
percent for the fifth year.
Eligibility criteria would include a
minimum investment of $2 million
with the creation of 20 permanent
jobs.
Other counties that offer a tax
moratorium include Brazoria, Har-
ris, Victoria and Jefferson counties.
Nueces County plans to offer a tax
moratorium similar to the one pro-
posed for San Patricio County, with
a percentage formula based on size
of investment and number of jobs
created.
“We need to be in a competitive
situation with other counites,” said
County Judge J.M. Edmondson.
The commissioners voted
unanimously to adopt an initial set of
guidelines that will be effective
September 1.
The judge plans to proyide the
court with a method for accepting
applications. Businesses will make
applications to be considered at a
public hearing where the commis-
sioners make a determination.
“Special taxing jurisdictions,
created by the commissioners such
as the Navigation and Drainage
districts automatically embrace any
criteria set by the county,” said the
judge.
Representatives from other taxing
jurisdictions present at Monday’s
meeting voiced fears of the effect of
the county’s tax moratorium on tax-
payers from specific entities such as
the City of Odem or the Ingleside In-
dependent School District.
“I would like to see all taxing en-
tities agree on a generic moratorium
which would be more ‘sellable’ to
business and industry,” said Judge
Edmondson.
The judge added that a large
percentage of the tax burden was
carried by the homeowner after the
loss of oil values. “If we can
generate a higher tax base, that
burden will decrease,” he said.
Grand Jury
The San Patricio County Grand
Jury met and indicted nine in-
dividuals in Judge Ronald Yeager’s
36th Judicial District Court on
August 12.
Two individuals were indicted for
burglary and burglary of a vehicle,
two for felony and one for burglary.
Other individuals were indicted
for aggravated sexual assualt,
unauthorized possession of a con-
trolled substance, felony theft and
felony driving while intoxicated.
Individuals from Sinton indicted
include Maria A. Moreno, Dan L.
Greenwood and Daniel Ortiz.
Moreno was true billed on charges
of felony forgery with bond set at
$2000. Bond on Greenwood, indicted
for felony theft, was set at $10,000,
and bond on Ortiz, true billed on
charges of aggravated sexual
assault, was set at $20,000.
After much positive discussion,
Commissioner Duncan addressed
the assembled group with a ques-
tion, “Is it reasonable to suppose
that no one out there is opposed to a
tax moratorium?” to which no one
replied against.
Also during Monday’s meeting,
the judge appointed several
members to the newly created San
Patricio County Industrial Develop-
ment Commission.
The appointed members included
Kerry ‘Skip’ Barnes, chairman;
Tom Curlee, representing utilities;
John Bailey, finance; Benancio
Paez, small business; Billie Jo Ten-
nill, local government; Richard
Molina, agriculture; Robert Earley,
state legislature; Don Wilson, in-
dustry; and Gilbert Mircovich,
education.
“I tried to select persons who have
shown an interest in the county’s
economic development,” said the
See COMMISSIONERS, Page 6
Individuals from Taft indicted in-
clude Damian C. Villalobos and Joe
G. Marez.
Villalobos was true billed on
charges of felony driving while in-
toxicated with bond set at $5,000, and
Marez was indicted for burglary
with bond set at $15,000.
Santiago M. Gonzales and Ramiro
Rendon both of Robstown, acting
alone and together, were true billed
on charges of burglary and burglary
of a vehicle with each man’s bond
for each offense set at $10,000.
Also indicted were Ruben Arreola
Jr. of Ingleside and Robert E. Scott
of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Arreola was true billed on charges
of felony forgery with bail set at
$5,000, and Scott was indicted for
unlawful possession of a controlled
substance (Penalty Group 1) with
bond set at $5,000.
Nine Individuals Indicted
SWIMMING HOLE- Rains that fell Wednesday have hampered the efforts of city work crews to make
repairs to several streets and curbs. Workers are forced to wait patiently before this hole on the west
side of Odem dries up. (James Pease photo) )
Ginning Totals 113,972 Bales
Cotton ginning in San Patricio
County topped the 100,000 bale mark
last week ginning totaled 19,552
bales, upping the total for the year to
113,972 bales. Several gins have
wound up operations, a couple ex-
pect to finish this week, and a couple
expect to be operating for another
week or two.
What had been feared to be a poor
crop earlier in the year, as weather
conditions were not the most
favorable, has turned out to be one of
the biggest in recent years. “We’ve
had a good season,” one ginner com-
mented. “Yield has been good, and
quality has been much better than
expected. Overall it’s been one of
our better seasons.”
Smith Gin Coop, Odem, which ex-
pects to be ginning at least through
this week and possibly into next
week, ginned 2,897 bales last week
for a total of 16,100 bales.
. Taft Gin and Seed, Taft, still has
► cotton on the lot, and operations here
are expected to continue for another
week or two. They ginned 3,100 bales
last week for a total of 14,300 bales.
OCOT, Inc., Odem, ginned 2,700
bales last week, has cotton on the lot,
and expects to continue operations
for another week or two. They have
ginned a total of 13,600 bales.
Gregory Gin, Gregory, also has
cotton on its lot, and expects to con-
tinue ginning a while longer. This
gin ginned 3,300 bales last week, up-
ping its total 12,500 bales to date.
Midway Gin, Taft, which has
L finished ginning operations, ginned
,, 2,430 bales last week for a total for
the season of 12,445.
Edroy Coop Gin, Edroy, expects to
be ginning for another week or so.
They have ginned a total of 12,220
bales, 2,457 during the past week.
Hartzendorff Gin, Sinton, has
finished operations after ginning 109
bales last week, for a total for the
year of 9,555 bales.
Segundo Gin, Sinton, has also
wound up ginning operations after
ginning 8,891 bales , 791 during the
past week.
Officials of the Texas Department
of Public Safety are urging
motorists to exercise special care
during the long Labor Day weekend.
Colonel Joe Milner, DPS director,
recommended that drivers take ex-
tra precautions to help ensure safety
in the higher volume of traffic ex-
pected.
“Motorists who comply with speed
limits, connect their safety belts,
and avoid driving while impaired by
alcohol or drugs, have the greatest
chance of not having a traffic acci-
dent,” Milner said.
“We’re estimating that this will be
the last Labor Day period for as
many as 35 persons who may be kill-
ed in traffic accidents,” Milner said.
“However, there will be additional
troopers on patrol during the holiday
weekend to provide maximim pro-
tection for the driving public.”
Milner said the DPS is supporting
the “Drive for Life” program spon-
West Portland Gin, Taft, expects
to wind it up this week. They ginned
1,000 bales last week, for a total of
7,700 bales.
Porter Gin Co., Mathis, ginned 281
bales last week, for a total of 4,161.
they still have some cotton coming
in, and expect to finish up this week.
Intercounty Gin, Sinton, ginned
460 bales last week, a total of 2,500
bales for the year, and expect to
start winding up operatioiis late this
week.
sored by Mothers Against Drunk
Driving (MADD), whose officials
ask persons not to drink and drive,
and to have their headlights switch-
ed on during daytime driving, Satur-
day, Sept. 3, in support of the effort
against DWI.
“The troopers will also have their
headlights on during this day, and
they will be especially watchful dur-
ing the Labor DAy period for drunk
drivers,” Milner added.
Texas DPS troppers will also be
keeping watch on the interstate
See DPS, Page 6
City Postpones
Garbage Pick-up
The city of Odem will postpone
garbage pick-up until Tuesday
September 6 due to the Labor Day
holiday.
DPS Urges Extra Care Over Holiday
FIRST DAY WALK TO SCHOOL- Taking a very, very slow pace to school on the first day are Odem
students (l-r) Armando Lira, Adolfo Garcia, Roland Villareal, Abel DeLuna and Rene Villareal. (Rebec-
ca Aguilar photo)
Appraisal District Contracts
For Tax Collection Services
By Rosalie Brown
The Board of Directors of the San
Patricio County Appraisal District
agreed to contract with the Aransas
Pass Independent School District to
provide collection services for taxes
in a meeting called for that purpose
Tuesday.
The chief appraiser will serve as
Tax Assessor/Collector for the
school district. Collection services
begin with the 1988 taxes.
The contract is the first requested
for collection of taxes, and the first
to be approved in this Appraisal
District.
According to Chief Appraiser
Kathryn Vermillion, there is still
time for other governmental bodies
Labor Day
Observance
Most Odem businesses will close
on Monday September 5 in
observance of Labor Day, resuming
normal operations Tuesday.
The Fist State Bank of Odem will
be closed all day Monday.
Odem Postmaster Jose Dom-
inguez and Edroy Postmistress
Delores Sanchez said their post of-
fices will deliver no mail, rural or ci-
ty, and have no window service. Also
no mail will be dispatched or placed
in boxes.
Odem schools will be closed, but
classes will resume normal
schedules Tuesday morning. Buses
will run regular schedules Tuesday.
The school tax office will also be
closed on Monday.
All county, state and federal of-
fices will observe the holiday. Odem
city offices will be closed with
emergency calls handled by calling
368-2091.
Central Power and Light as well
as most retail outlets will be closed,
although most service stations and
convenience stores will remain
open.
The Odem-Edroy Times will be
closed Monday.
to request the service this year if
they meet certain criteria.
Sinton City Manager Walter W.
Hill said that the city had previously
contracted with the Sinton Indepen-
dent School District and that the city
might be interested in contracting
with the Appraisal District in the
future.
According to Vermillion, several
others have inquired about the joint
collection services, but are not in-
terested in contracting until next
year in order to find places for the
personnel currently providing the
services.
During the discussion on the re-
quest by the school district, Ver-
million said that one item was “a
gentlemen’s agreement.” Hill
pointed out that there is a turnover
of elected officials, and it would be
wise to have that provision included
in the wording of the contract rather
than by verbal agreement.
The board agreed and approved
the new wording which provided
that on audit, the amount charged by
the District would be adjusted to
reflect the actual costs. If the
charges for services were higher
than the costs on audit, the District
would receive a refund, but, if they
were too low, it would be required to
pay the additional cost. The Ap-
praisal District is not allowed to
make a profit.
Board Chairman Walter Roots
observed that it would take a year or
two to determine the actual costs,
and that the option presented was a
valid one.
The full board was present with
the exception of Harrell Curlee, who
was out of the country.
The next regular meeting of the
Board of Directors is next week on
September 8 at 9:30 a.m.
At that time, the new budget for
the year beginning January 1, 1989
will be presented.
According to Vermillion there are
no pay raises included in the new
budget. However, there will be an in-
crease in appraisal costs due to the
valuation process.
Local Family Trains
Dogs For Leader School
A local family is involved in a one-
of-a-kind project that puts dogs
through an initial training program
to prepare them for the Leader Dog
School in Rochester, Mich., where
the dogs receive intensive training
to become “eyes” for a blind person.
Rita and Steve Orbison as well as
children Sherrie, Stephanie, Eddie
and Silas all of Odem became involv-
ed in the project when Sherrie heard
about the dogs at a 4-H meeting.
Veterinarian Dr. T.J. Skinner ol
Aransas Pass had donated eight
dogs to the Leader School and
because of the success rate of the
dogs, the Skinners requested per-
mission from the school to provide
“basic” training for dogs here.
The Orbison family currently
works with their dog Sunny, who has
the ideal temperament for a leader
dog.
The basic training involves the
socialization of the dogs. The
animals must become accustomed
to noises, including traffic, as well
as public places such as the post of-
fice, bank and grocery store,
everywhere a blind person will go.
The dogs, always on a leash, learn
to avoid barking, sniffing or
touching in those public places.
The Orbisons have had problems
taking the dogs into some public
places. Educating the public will
resolve those problems.
After the dogs receive basic train-
ing, the Leader School “calls in” the
dogs for four months of formal train-
ing. The dogs then spend 30 more
days there with their new blind
master.
Rita Orbison said the family
realized what the project would de-
mand and added the project has
been good for the kids.
"EYES" FOR THE BLIND- Dr. Skinner initiated the basic training project but these local kids actually
go out into the public to get these leader dogs for the blind accustomed to the noises, people and places.
Trainers and dogs include (l-r) Silas Orbison, Keith Lincoln of Aransas Pass with Flash, Caryn House of
Aransas Pass with Dancer, Sheryl House of Aransas Pass with Magic, Eddie Orbison and Sherrie Or-
bison with Sunny.
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Aguilar, Rebecca & Hall, Page. The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 1, 1988, newspaper, September 1, 1988; Sinton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1052947/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Odem Public Library.