Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 30, 1993 Page: 1 of 18
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HAPPY NEW
A Texas Press Association Sweepstakes Award-Winning New
HONDO ANVIL I
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Volume 107, Number 52
Thursday, December 30,1993
Anyone wishing lo File as a Demo-
cratic or Republican candidate for
the March 8th Primaries must do so
by 6:00 p.m., January 3, 1994.
Candidates must file with the re-
spective County Chairmen, Marga-
ret Centilli, Democratic, or Ann
Pcdcn, Republican.
Medina county offices up for elec-
tion include, county judge, statutory
county court judge, district clerk,
county clerk, county treasurer,
county surveyor, county commis-
sioners for precincts 2 and 4; justices
of the peace for precincts 1,2,3, and
4; all 23 voting precinct chairs and
county chair.
Anyone wanting to run for these
offices on the Democratic ticket
Flu season
BMs strikes area
New business hours
begin for city hall
Beginning Jan. 3, 1994, Hondo
city offices will be open for busi-
ness from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. The drive-
thru window will be open 8 to 5.
Christmas tree pickups
The City of Hondo will gladly
pick up Christmas trees that arc
missed by Garbage Gobbler on
their regular routes. „..,
Please call City Hall and leave
your request to have your Christ-
mas tree picked up.
Hoop signup Tuesday
Registration for the 1994 season
of the Hondo Youth Basketball As-
sociation will take place Tues., Jan.
4, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Meyer
Cafeteria.
For the third year, leagues will be
formed for boys and girls from third
through sixth grade.
Cost is $20 per child, and a birth
certificate is required to register.
Anyone wanting to be a coach or
referee can sign up at registration.
For further information, call
Susan Decker, at 426-4241, or Blake
Bochlc, at 426-5129.
Doss Aviation
apparent winner
of Flight Screening
Contract
i 'I
Doss Aviation is the apparent win-
ner of the Air Force's 5-year contract
for the Enhanced Flight Screening
Program. Other competitors have the
opportunity to register a protest which
could delay the final award of the con-
tract.
Nevertheless, a supervisory cadre
of operations and maintenance per-
sonnel will report for work Jan. 3,
1994. Flight instructors are expected
to be called back to work by the end of
January.
The first flight screening class is to
start Feb. 27, 1994.
Many Medina County residents
are currently battling a flu epidemic
that has kept Medina Community
Hospital filled to capacity. Emer-
gency room and local physicians arc
also working through an overload of
patients with various symptoms.
Medina County Health officer, Dr.
John W. Meyer wrote the following
for a Texas Medical Foundation
publication.
"I think we all know that there is no
cure for the common cold or for the
flu, for that matter, but we often find
ourselves wondering: "Am 1 sick
enough to see a doctor?"
"Well, the fact is that if you are an
otherwise healthy adult who gets a
cold or the flu, you can feel pretty
sick and still not need to see a doctor.
You go to bed, drink plenty of fluids,
take aspirin, and call me in the morn-
ing.
"You may laugh at that old saw,
but there is some good sense behind
it.
"Whether you seek care at a mili-
tary facility, through an HMO, or
with your own family physician, you
need to have a doctor whom you can
call on the phone for advice.
"After he or she has asked you
about your symptoms and given you
that sage advice, you need locall him
or her back for what we call follow-
up. The flu and the common cold can
cause complications and secondary
infections and the physician my de-
cide whether you need to be exam-
ined, or whether conservative man-
agement at home is appropriate,
based on what you tell him or her on
the phone.
"I could end this article here, be-
cause you really know all you need to
know. However, not everybody has
one particular family doctor to call,
or the doctor may be unavailable. 1
realize that it's not a perfect world, so
1 would like to offer some practical
information about respiratory ill-
nesses that may help' you decide
whether or not you need to see the
doctor.
"To start at the beginning, colds
and flu arc caused by a broad spec-
trum of respiratory viruses. Their
effect on you depends on the virility
of the vihis, how much of the virus
infects you, your age, your health,
and many other variables.
Symptoms in infants, children
"If you have an infant under two
months of age who develops cold
symptoms, the baby should be exam-
inted by a doctor. Beyond that age,
it's hard to make general statements,
but a couple of examples may help.
"Before a child is old enough to
reliably tell you what he or she feels,
you have to rely on symptoms. If a
baby is "stopped up," has had a recent
onset of a clear runny nose, an occa-
sional dry cough, a low grade tem-
perature (less than 102 degrees) that
is easily controlled with acetamino-
phen (e.g, Tylenol), is eating and
sleeping well, and seems easily
comforted, he doesn't need to sec a
doctor.
"On the other hand, if the symp-
toms are not resolving in about five
days, you should at least call. Other
symptoms to look for that may re-
quire a call or visit to the doctor: a
nasal discharge that turns yellow or
green for more than a day; a cough
that becomes congested, high-
pitched, or frequent (keeping the
baby awake all night): a baby who
stops eating or, more importantly,
stops taking fluids; a baby who is .
constantly fussy and can't be com-
forted; rapid breathing; or other
symptoms not usually seen with
colds.
"Like I said, it is hard to make
general statements about treating
respiratory illnesses in very young
children but in my practice, I have
learned that one of the best lip-offs to
a really sick child is when the mother
See FLU, Page 12
Chamber elects officers,
sets banquet date
The Hondo Radar Station report* the following
weather information for this past week;
The Hondd Area Chamber of Com-
merce elected new officers Monday.
David Stacks was elected president;
James L. Tomey, vice president; and
Jo Lynn Bragg, secretary/treasurer.
Saturday, Jan. 29 was set for the
Chamber of Commerce Banquet. The
banquet will be held in the County Fair
Date
High
Low
Rain
Tue., Dec. 21
51
40
tr.
Wed., Dec. 22
47
30
.16
Thu., Dec. 23
50
21
.00
Fri., Dec. 24
55
32
.00
Sat., Dec. 25
71
27
.00
Sun., Dec. 26
71
30
.00
Mon., Dec. 27
74
37
.00
Tue., Dec. 28
65
46
tr.
Local businesses receive
free assistance from the SB DC
Tout rain for past week: 0.16
Tout rain for December: 0.17
Tout rain for 1993: 16.56 in.
Rainy days in 1993: 69
Avg. high temp, for the week: 60.5°
Avg. low temp, for the week: 32.9°
High temp, for 1993: 99°,
on July 23 & July 30
Low temp, for 1993: 21°, on Dee. 23
Rain in 1992, thru Dec. 28: 45.26 in.
Rain in 1991, thru Dec. 28: 34.41 in.
The Hondo Chamber of Com-
merce has a cooperative agreement
with the University of Texas at San
Antonio's (UTSA) Small Business
Development Center (SBDC) lo
provide free, one-on-one confiden-
tial counselling to local businesses.
The Hondo Chamber of Commerce
provides this service lo existing and
start-up businesses on the first Wed-
nesday of every month.
Oscar Loredo, a Business fv vc i
opment Specialist with the SBDC,
will replace Debbie Schuencman
who has been coming to Hondo for
over two years. Mr. Loredo joined
the UTSA SBDC on November 1,
1993. Previously, Mr. Lordo was
Acting Director for the SBDC and
Director for the Small Business Insti-
tute (SBI) at the University of Texas
- Pan American.
If you would like assistance for
your existing business, or if you plan
outrt a new business, call the
Hondo Chamber of Commerce at
426-3037 to makwan appointment to
discuss your needs.
Our 107th Year
tX, Medina County's Leading Newspaper
18 Pages, Two Sections
50 Cents
Filing deadline is Jan. 3 for election candidates
needs to file with Margaret Centilli,
at 309 Washington, Devine, Texas.
Call her at 663-2833 for information
about filing and filing fees.
Candidates for the Republican
ticket must file with Ann Pcden. She
will be available all day Jan. 3,9 a.m.
-6p.m.,atPcdcn'sRcxall Drug, 1118
18th St. to receive filing fees and
applications.
Building. Happy Hour will start at 6
p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and the program
at 8 p.m.
The speaker for the banquet will be
San Antonio attorney Alan Polunsky,
a member of the TDCJ board.
Tickets will go on sale next week at
$15 each and (able for 8 at $100.
A Bright II
New Tear ■
Is On
! 1 V
XX'
yyy>>
Its Way!
The confetti is ready,
The candles are lit,
Everythin\g 3s set...
For ’94 to be a hit!
Thank you for your
business and friendship.
vXO
A look at prison's economic
pluses, minuses for Hondo
In her March 5, 1992, letter to the
editor, Ella F. Mummc said that she
had spoken with a prison guard in a
1,000-bcd facility near Texarkana.
She asked the guard if the prison had
helped their town. Mummc said the
guard's answer was "not that much."
How much has the Ruben Torres
Unit, a 1,000-bcd facility, helped
Hondo? Well, since the Torres Unit
and the future 500-bed substancc-
abuse facility have cost the city a
bundle, almost a $4 million dollar
bundle, the answer had better top "not
that much."
City Manager Scott Wall compiled
a list of costs incurred by the city to
bring the prisons to Hondo and to
make good on commitments made to
the state to entice it to build prisons
near Hondo. The $4 million repre-
sents a cost of about $653 for every
one of the 6,129 Hondo residents.
Prison costs
Bonds issued by the cily for water
and sewer improvements and for
roads top the list at $3.11 million.
The remaining costs of $879,365,
which the city began incurring in
1988, arc:
• Land for the substance-abuse
treatment facility and Torres Unit,
$332,000;
• Legal fees, $232,496;
• Liquified petroleum gas system
and electrical system improvements,
$170,000;
• Agriculture lease of 1151 acres,
$57,550 (This total represents the
economic loss to the cily because of a
below market value lease to TDCJ);
• Economic development staff sal-
ary (1 year), $21,840;
• Satellite dish for die subslancc-
abuse treatment facility, $20,000;
• Removal of lead from the site for
the substance-abuse treatment facil-
ity, $19,093;
• Engineering fees, $14,040;
• Printing fees, $3,954;
• Prison tour, $3,778;
• Abstract company fees, $2,124;
• Prison dedication and barbecue,
$1,221;
• Appraisal fees, $975; and
• Shipping fees, $294.
According to Wall, the prisons will
benefit by buying electricity, water
and sewer services for the two facili-
ties at a rate discounted below what
.1
Hondo residents would pay per unit
of service.
Prison benefits
Based on an Oct. 21 employee list
of the 319 prison employees at the
Torres Unit, 121, or 38% of the total,
live in Hondo; 105, or 33%, live in
San Antonio. Most of the other 93
prison employees live in cities near
Hondo.
The percentage of Torres Unit em-
ployees living in Hondo increased
from 30% in May 1993 to 38% in Oct.
1993 according to Bumis K. Law-
rence, director of the Medina Eco-
nomic Development Foundation.
Lawrence said the Texas prison
system uses a statewide salary
average of $22,000 per year. Using
$22,000 as a basis for calculating the
annual salaries received by TDCJ
employees who live in Hondo yields
an estimate of $2.7 million. How
much of this $2.7 million is spent in
Hondo is not known, but several
Hondo businesses have reported in-
creased business activity because of
the Torres unit being located near
Hondo.
An informal survey of several local
businesses produced the following
comments:
• Medina Community Hospital
Administrator Ernie Parisi said the
prison has had a major impact on jhc
hospital. He said the hospital has
added 22 employees who work at the
prison with a monthly payroll of
about $55,000. The hospital also
added 5 other employees whose
employment is directly related to the
prison. "Because of the numbers gen-
erated by the prison," Parisi said," the
hospital was able to recruit an internal
medicine division and a general sur-
geon." He estimated the value of the
contract with the prison, which is
being renegotiated for renewal, to be
worth about $1.3 million per year in
gross revenues.
• Community National Bank Presi-
dent Tad Woolen said his hank's
business has picked up because of the
prison. He said, "Our bank has grown
in total assets and deposits of 5% to
6% in 1993."
• Cecil Atkission Ford General
Manager Clarcndc McNiel said they
have definitely enjoyed an increase in
business from the prison, not only
from direct sales of vehicles to prison
employees, but also an increase in
service department revenues.
• State Farm Insurance Agent
James L. Tomey said the prison has
had a big impact on his business. He
said, "We've picked up a lot of new
business including both newly writ-
ten contracts and policy holders
transferring in."
• Sammy Nooner of County Wide
Realty said he has sold only one home
to a prison employee. He said that he
had hoped to sell more homes, but
business has been picking up in pro-
pane sales lo prison employees living
in the country and in trailer parks. He
said the prison has had a definite
impact at the convenience store, es-
pecially during shift changes with
gasoline and store sales up.
Dr. John Jennings said that he
hadn't seen much of an increase in his
field, but it certainly hasn't hurt any-
thing.
Cliff Reid, owner and manager of
Dairy Queen of Hondo, said, "I can't
give real numbers, but I feel like it has
helped us a lot. I sec a lot of the guards
coming in here to eat I'm glad we got
the prison. I'm real pleased with what
we're getting." Reid said that sales are
up about 10% this year.
Genaro Avila of GO'S Barber Shop
said, "We've noticed a little increase
from the prison, not any big volume.
We've picked up a few people."
Fred Graff, the owner of Graffs
Cleaners and Graffs Western &
Men's Wear, said "It's hard to judge.
At first it helped a lot, but it's down to
about 5% in both the cleaning and
western wear."
Although the survey was neither
scientifically conducted nor com-
plete, the general response from the
business community is that the
prison, at the very least, has been
good for business.
It is apparent that Hondo residents
will not share the economic benefits
of having two prison sites near Hondo
in the same proportion in which they
shared costs. In the long-term, how-
ever, the city as a whole should con-
tinue to receive substantial economic
benefits from the prisons for many
years; but in the short-term, the city is
suffering from prison-related cash-
flow problems.
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Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 30, 1993, newspaper, December 30, 1993; Hondo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth818354/m1/1/: accessed July 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Hondo Public Library.