The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 154, No. 85, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 20, 2007 Page: 2 of 14
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Page 2A ★ lOc Bastrop Hdocrtiscr
Thursday, December 20, 2007 W
Survey to support new p lans for Main Street
By Davis McAuiey
Editor
While pushing ahead with plans for spiff-
ing up Chestnut Street beginning next year,
the Bastrop Economic Development Corp.
board hinted Monday that downtown Main
Street may also be in line for improvements.
The discussion took place during a public
hearing on whether the board should spend
up to $27,000 for a detailed survey of fea-
tures and utilities along the street from Spring
to Pine Street. No one challenged the idea,
and the board approved the work.
Mayor Tom Scott, who chairs the BEDC
board, said the survey is needed to plan for
upgrading electric service and lighting in the
historic core of the central business district.
Of special concern is the city's inability to
boost holiday lighting downtown because of
limited electric sendee.
City Manager Mike Talbot said Main
Street improvements need to be carefully
planned.
"The electrical infrastructure (downtown)
is shot," said Talbot. "We're at capacity now."
And some decorative lighting along the
street is presently served by "substandard
conduit" wiring, Talbot said. He also sug-
gested that antique-style street lights should
be installed on raised cement bases to make
them less prone to damage by careless park-
ing along the street.
In addition some Main Street interests are
exploring even further improvements, includ-
ing new benches and landscaping as well as
new lighting and accommodations for pedes-
trians, said Talbot.
"It will take a whole planning effort," he
said. And a detailed survey of existing fea-
tures, public rights of way and property lines
will make planning easier and avoid future
complications, Talbot suggested.
Board member Pat Crawford praised the
planning effort. "It's a great idea," she said.
"Downtown's just dark (at night)."
The board also authorized engineering and
design work to begin for planned Chestnut
Street improvements and adopted a resolu-
tion which will permit future debt to cover
the expense. Talbot suggested that rework-
ing Chestnut from Water to the railroad will
likely cost about $1.3 million and the board
could sell bonds to finance the work begin-
ning next year.
Elgin D shines in budget report charges
* C JL /"i:..i i ,
By Terry Hagerty
Staff Writer
The Elgin school board heard highlights
of the district's annual financial audit dur-
ing their regular meeting Monday night
— and they liked what they heard.
The review of the district's financial
record keeping for fiscal year 2006-07
was listed as an "unqualified opinion" by
auditors from Austin's Gindler, Chappell,
Morrison & Co. PC. — a positive term
that means the auditors "take no exception"
to die accuracy of the financial statements
as presented by the school district for each
major fond.
The audit focused mainly on the district's
general fund and gave several kudos to dis-
trict officials for budgetary constraint.
"Due to state ftmding uncertainties, the
district curtailed spending so that actual
expenditures were $2,078,478 below bud-
geted amounts," the report said.
Total revenues for the general fund
were $24,406,452 against expenditures of
$22,327,974.
The general fond balance was nearly $8
million and the district realized $900,000 in
investment revenues, more than the district
had anticipated.
The district's total combined net assets
were $10.93 million as of Aug. 31.
SISD approves video surveillance purchase
By Jacqueline Davis
Staff Writer
The Smithville school board
received a breath of fresh air
Monday night as their financial
audit confirmed their frind bal-
ance had increased significantly
in the 2006/2007 school year.
Kitty Jo Ripley, senior CPA
with the Austin-based firm
West, Davis & Co., delivered
the audit w ith the assistance of
Richard Boehm, finance direc-
tor of Smithville ISD.
Ripley and Boehm reported
that the district's fund balance
increased overall by nearly $1
million and that $700,000 had
been added to die fund balance
this year.
Ripley and Boehm cited
money saved as a result of
some debt refinancing and an
increase in state aid as part of
die reason behind die fund bal-
ance increase.
Superintendent Gary Sage
said he was glad die district was
in a better financial position as
die district has seen cutbacks in
past years, particularly in 2004,
when Woodside Trails was shut
down and district funds were
lost.
In odier business, die school
board approved spending
$59,567 to purchase video sur-
veillance equipment for Brown
Primary, Smithville Elementary
and Smithville Junior High
School to combat vandalism
and dieft that have occurred
on school property. The actual
quote surpassed the original
estimate of $50,000.
The board took Sage's
Gifts to Go...
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Footed Votive r
On Sale $80! ^
While supplies last. Regularly $99
in Historic Downtown Bastrop
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Extended Holiday Hours to help you "Bring Your Style Home"
from now until Christmas we are open until 8 Thurs Sc Fri and on Sun 12-4
NOTICE
CHRISTMAS/HEW YEAR'S
DEADLINES 07
Thursday, December 27 Issue
Deadline for CLASSIFIED
and DISPLAY ads
NOON, Thursday, Dec. 20
Deadline for NEWS ITEMS
Noon, Friday, December 21
Saturday, December 29 Issue
Deadline for CLASSIFIED
and DISPLAY ads
11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 24
Deadline for NEWS ITEMS
3 p.m., Wednesday, December 26
Thursday, January 3 Issue
Deadline for CLASSIFIED
and DISPLAY ads
NOON, Thursday, Dec. 27
Deadline for NEWS ITEMS
Noon, Friday, December 28
The Bastrop Advertiser office will be closed
Tuesday, December 25 & Tuesday, January 1
in observance of the Christmas & New Year's Holidays * 321-2557
recommendation and did not
approve an additional $23,753
to fund motion detectors for die
diree schools after Smithville
High School Principal Jason
Hewitt said die motion detec-
tors on his campus had been
more of a nuisance dian help
by giving him too many false
alarms.
Hewitt said a good portion
of die motion detector alarms
at SHS are caused by insects
or a teacher trying to get into
die school on a weekend to
pick up some forgotten paper-
FREE HEALTH
NEWSLETTER!
DrEdsF ree Videos •com
Q Bluebonnet
will be closed in observance
of the Holidays,
Monday and Tuesday,
December 24 and 25,2007,
and Tuesday, January 1,2008.
800-842-7708
www.bluebonnetelectric.coop
HOic Bastrop aducrtiscr
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper
Since March 1,1853
Semi-Weekly Since Sept. 5,1977
Devoted to the welfare of the people of Bastrop County.
Published 104 times a year on Thursdays and Saturdays by
Austin Community Newspapers, a division of Cox Newspapers, at:
The Bastrop Advertiser Phone:
908 Water St. (512) 321-2557
P.O. Box 459 Fax:
Bastrop, Texas 78602 (512)321-1680
e-mail: news@bastropadvertiser.com (news)
or ads@bastropadvertiser.com (retail advertising)
Subscription rates: $49.92 per year or $35.36 per six months deliv-
ered in county, $59.28 per year or $41.08 per six months delivered
out of county, and $74.88 per year delivered out of state (all are pay-
able in advance). Periodic postage paid at Bastrop, Texas 78602.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Bastmp Advertiser, P.O. Box 459,
Bastrop, Texas 78602-0459
Publisher. Stan Woody
Advertising: Debbie Denny
Editor: Davis McAuiey
Sports editor: Mark Goodson
Staff writers: Terry Hagerty, Jacqueline Davis
Contributing writers: Ellen Moore, Ernest Simmons,
Donald Williams, Joan Russell, Donna Davis, Michal Hubbard
Contributing photographers: Charles Bell, Michael Amador,
Karol Rice, M.D. DeHart
Office manager: Shirley Gibbons
Classifieds, subscriptions: Ginny Pickering
Production: Alicia Svetlik, Daniel Thornton
MEMBER
2007
/ty A
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
ASSOCIATION
TU
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
The Bastrop Advertiser (USPS045-020)
Member: National Newspaper Association
Texas Press Association
South Texas Press Association
Bastrop Chamber of Commerce
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
Texas Press Association winner:
1964, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986,
1987, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998,
2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006
Best of Cox winner: 2004
South Texas Press
Association winner:
1991,1992, 1994, 1997, 1998,
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Glickler declined to say
why Goertz was scheduled
for trial first.
Hernandez resigned as
sheriff soon after the initial
indictments were handed up
in May. Powell had already
left the county's employ
before he was indicted this
summer.
Goertz continues to carry
out his duties as commis-
Contiriued from Page 1A
sioner and has suggested he
could seek re-election. So
far he has not signed up for a
place on the Republican Party
primary ballot in March.
Two Democrats are
already lined up to run for
the post next year, retired
U.S. Bureau of Prisons
employee Bill Peterson and
Bastrop Mayor Pro Tem
Willie DeLaRosa.
work. Hewitt said he typically
received between five and seven
caution calls due to the tripped
sensors while he is enjoying his
weekend.
"I use the video surveillance
to find out what teacher set the
alarm off," Hewitt said with a
laugh.
About Your
Bastrop Advertiser
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
■ (512) 321-2557
FAX:
■ (512) 321-1680
E-MAIL:
■ news@bastropadvertiser.com
■ arts@bastropadvertiser.com
■ sports@bastropadvertiser.com
■ ads@bastropadvertiser.com
■ ciassifieds@bastropadvertiser.com
AUSTIN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
BUSINESS HOURS:
■ Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Also, some newsroom staff members may be
available until 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.
ADDRESS:
■ Street: 908 Water St., Bastrop, Texas 78602-3834
■ Mailing: P.O. Box 459, Bastrop, Texas 78602-0459
HOW TO SUBMIT A NEWS OR SPORTS STORY:
■ The best way to get your news or sports item in the paper is to
submit the information in writing and delivered in person or sent by
mail, fax, disk (Microsoft Word format preferred) or e-mail. Typed and
double-spaced copy is preferred, or if you're using a computer, leave
some space between each line. Give us the basic information, and
try to be as concise as possible. Please leave a contact person and
daytime telephone number in case we need more information. There is
no charge for news or sports stories. Photos may also be submitted.
Color photos are preferred, but black and white photos are accepted.
Please, no Polaroid pictures. Photos need to be sent as separate JPEG
attachments. If you have any questions, call editor Davis McAuiey for
news items or sports editor Mark Goodson for sports items.
9 News deadlines: Thursday issue, 3 p.m. Monday; and Saturday is-
sue, 3 p.m. Thursday. Early deadlines are announced prior to holidays.
CORRECTIONS:
9 The Bastrop Advertiser makes every effort to provide fair and
accurate information in its news articles, pictures and captions.
Should we make an error, please contact the news department.
It is our policy to correct significant errors of fact. Corrections are
generally placed on Page 2.
WEDDINGS. ENGAGEMENTS. ANNIVERSARIES. BIRTHS & OBITS:
■ Obituary announcements are published free of charge. Photos
may also be submitted. Color photos are preferred, but black and
white photos are also accepted. Obituary announcements are
usually provided by the funeral home or family. For questions, call
editor Davis McAuiey. Wedding, anniversary, engagement and birth
announcements are paid. Contact Debbie Denny in the advertising
department.
HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED OR DISPLAY AD:
■ The best way to place a classified or display ad is in person during
regular business hours or by telephone. You may also use the classified
ad form in the classified section, and you may also send ad copy by fax.
Rates and special offers for classified ads are listed in the classified ads
section of each issue. Media kits are available for advertisers, which also
include information about our other Austin-area newspapers, including
The Smithville Times, Westlake Picayune, Pflugerville Pflag, Round Rock
Leader, Lake Travis View and North Lake Travis LOG. If you have any
questions, call the classified ads department for classified ads or Debbie
Denny for display ads.
■ Advertising deadlines: Thursday issue, 5 p.m. Friday for display
ads and classified ads; and Saturday issue, 5 p.m. Wednesday for
display ads and classified ads. Early deadlines may be announced
prior to some holidays.
ADVERTISING ACCEPTABILITY:
■ The Bastrop Advertiser reserves the right to reject or edit any
advertisement submitted for publication, in its sole discretion.
■ We will not knowingly accept any advertisement that we consider
potentially misleading, deceptive, offensive, discriminatory, that may
infringe the rights (including trademark and copyright) of any person
or entity, or that otherwise may be inappropriate for general circulation
publication. We will not knowingly accept, regardless of ad content, any
advertising for any product or service that itself may be unlawful, harmful,
or inappropriate for inclusion in a general circulation publication.
■ We do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any published
advertisement, and urge readers to contact the advertiser directly if
they have any issue with either the content of the advertising or the
product or service advertised.
■ The Bastrop Advertiser is not responsible for errors or omissions
in advertisements, for failure to publish in a timely manner, or for any
damages caused thereby. The sole remedy for failure to publish in a timely
manner shall be refund of any monies actually paid by the advertiser for
the desired publication. The sole remedy for errors or omissions shall be
refund of monies actually paid by the advertiser for the space in which
the error or omission occurred, which may be less than the cost of the
entire advertisement. We reserve the right to correct or republish an
advertisement in lieu of any refund.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:
■ The rates are $52.00 per year or $37.44 per six
months in Bastrop County, $62.40 per year or $43.16
per six months outside Bastrop County or $74.88 per
year or $49.40 per six months outside Texas. All are
payable in advance by cash, check or money order or
credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover). Payment
can be made in person during regular business hours or sent by mail.
All county subscribers should receive their papers on Thursdays and
Saturdays. Copies of the newspaper are also on sale at locations
around the county. If you have any questions, call Ginny Pickering.
BACK ISSUES:
■ Back issues of The Bastrop Advertiser are kept for about a year and are
available at our office while supplies last. There are also bound copies of
certain years at our office and copies available on microfilm at the Bastrop
Public Library. If you are looking for a specific article or advertisement, you
are welcome to browse through our back issues during regular business
hours.
RECYCLING:
■ The Bastrop Advertiser is recyclable, and we encourage you to recycle
your newspaper when you are finished with it. The city of Bastrop has
curbsiae recycling (321-3941), and Recycling Options is located at 217
Pershing Blvd., around the corner from the former County Recycling
Station. For information, call 303-6665.
VISA
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McAuley, Davis. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 154, No. 85, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 20, 2007, newspaper, December 20, 2007; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252448/m1/2/: accessed July 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bastrop Public Library.