The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 155, No. 106, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 28, 2009 Page: 1 of 14
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2009
50$
JBastrop 2ldo eraser
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper Since March 1, 1853 Semi-Weekly Since Sept. 5, 1977
Volume 155, Number 106
File photo
Elgin swimmer Kate Rivers, above, is
seen in the 100-yard backstroke at the
regional championships in Magnolia,
Feb. 14. Kate and her sister Ellyn began
their quest for a gold medal Friday at
the UIL State Swimming and Diving
Championships in Austin. See page 6B
for complete coverage.
wo [jet
tax break
or new
exemption
By Cyndi Wright
Editor
Two area residents are the first to take
advantage of a new law that passed the
Texas Legislature in 2007 and allows for
lower tax appraisals for land used for wild-
life management. Roxanne Hernandez, the
county habitat conservation plan admin-
istrator, asked county commissioners to
approve the new conservation easements at
last Monday night's meeting.
"This agreement between the county and
the landowner agrees that they will actively
manage their property for the benefit of
the Houston toad - and by extension, other
wildlife," Hernandez explained.
Before the 2007 legislature, those who
wanted to use their land to benefit wildlife
- and get a tax exemption - had to first have
an agriculture exemption on that land for the
five years prior. According to Hernandez,
many people did not want to use their land
to produce crops and/or livestock.
She said, however, that since the new law
went into effect, she knows of close to 20
property owners who are working on com-
pleting the process to declare their property
See TAX, Page 6A
Bastrop, Texas
16 pages n two sections
The toad in drought
By Cyndi Wright
Editor
Bastrop County has become
a leader in Houston toad pres-
ervation efforts but even the
county cannot control the harm
the drought is causing the
endangered species.
Bastrop County commission-
ers met for their first night meet-
ing on Monday and welcomed a
good-sized crowd that included
a few area children. The meet-
ing only lasted for about 45
minutes, but during that time the
court heard a presentation from
Michael Forstner, a professor
in the Department of Biology
at Texas State University in San
Marcos.
Forstner, in conjunction with
the county and several other
agencies and organizations, is
the front man for one of the
largest ongoing attempts to
salvage an endangered species
and put it back on the road to
recovery.
"The toad is in real trouble,"
Forstner said. "And the drought
is not helping."
Forstner helped the county
apply for a $1 million grant
in 2001 to purchase a large
tract of land. The 450-acre tract
was purchased in 2002, and in
2003, the county entered into
an agreement that named TSU
as the steward of the land - pur-
chased primarily to conserve
and manage Houston toad habi-
tat. Others who have partnered
in the effort include Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department,
private landowners, Boy Scouts
and more, Forstner said.
"This drought has pushed
the toad to levels that are not
acceptable," he said.
He has applied for another
grant that should help find solu-
tions to preserving the toad dur-
ing the drought.
"This grant is designed
to bring them back from the
brink," he explained.
See TOAD, Page 6A
m
£
i
t
I!
a
E
I
Photo courtesy Texas State University Biology Department
A Texas State University biology graduate student collects a half string of toad eggs to take to the Houston Zoo where they
will be carefully cultivated and released back into the area when they reach a viable age.
ark Mc onald file for 15
By Terry Hagerty
Assistant Editor
Jim Clark, a counselor with the Manor
school district, is challenging incumbent
James Allen, who is the current school
board president, in the May 9 Bastrop
school board election.
Clark said he is running because, "As a
district we are not performing well. I want
to see better student performance. We need
to reexamine curriculum and how lessons
are taught."
Clark cited Bastrop student scores on the
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) as an area
where the district should improve.
"Our average SAT scores are about 900,
and the Texas Education Agency recom-
mends that in order to be college ready,
scores should be around 1100," Clark said.
Clark, who ran unsuccessfully for the
board in Spring 2008, said he will bet-
ter represent Cedar Creek residents, many
of whom disagreed with not starting the
new Cedar Creek High School with 9th-12
grades.
"The board did not properly communi-
cate on the (grade configuration) of the new
Cedar Creek High School," he said.
Clark pointed out the district's own infor-
mational materials given out as part of the
2007 $97 million bond proposal, which
said the new high school would start with
about 2,500 students, not the lower numbers
for the initial 9th-10th grade configuration
recently approved in a 7-1 board vote.
McDonald challenges Halladay
Ty McDonald, a local pastor and small
business owner, said she filed for Place
2 (held by incumbent Karen Halladay)
because "I want to help form our education
system into a more equitable and effective
system."
McDonald is a former Bastrop High
School English teacher (five years).
She has also conducted teaeher/admin-
istrator training seminars with Ruach
See BISD, Page 6A
INSIDE
WEATHER
Tribute to Dr. Payne 4A
Citizens Sheriff Academy 5A
Simmons Remembers 4B
■ Saturday's forecast: News 2A
Partly Cloudy / Wind Uving 8A
Low: 34° Classified ads 1B
Rain: 0%
Obits 4B
■ Last week: '
High Low Prec. Sports 5B
Sunday 64° 34° 0%
Monday 73° 43° 10%
#0111, _ „
Tuesday 81° 53° 0% lllllMMr
Wednesday 82° 57° 10%
Thursday 81° 55" 10% This newspaper
is recyclable
7 65668 78602 3
Three file
or gin
counci
By Terry Hagerty
Assistant Editor
Chris Cannon said he was
recruited to run for the Elgin
City Council because some
citizens don't feel the council
is "connected enough" with
the community.
Incumbent W.C. Estes,
who Cannon is challenging
for the Ward 3 seat, has a dif-
ferent take on what he sees as
recent progress of the council
and why he's seeking reelec-
tion.
"We've got a good team
right now with the council,"
Estes said.
Cannon and Estes, and
See ELGIN, Page 6A
Honey Bears chili benefit
The Bastrop Advertiser photo/Terry Hagerty
McKena Yarbrough cools down her delicious chili at Thursday's HoneyBears
Booster Club chili supper to benefit the Bastrop High School HoneyBears. The
supper was held at the cafetorium, and the HoneyBears performed later in the
main gym. See page 6A for more photos.
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Wright, Cyndi. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 155, No. 106, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 28, 2009, newspaper, February 28, 2009; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252560/m1/1/: accessed July 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bastrop Public Library.