OCR Text

New Braunfels Herald Zeitung (Newspaper) - April 26, 2003, New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels
SATURDAY April 26, 2003
16 pages in.2 sections
mmmmmm mmmmmm mpmhm If) pages in, 2 sec t I*Herald-Zeitung
i !^v.'*:i:?rr-:.3Ezzzi zm
Vol. 152, No. 140
Serving New Braunfels and (Ionia! County since 1852
50 centsNBFD reduces first response in county fires
By Ron Maloney
Staff Writer
Fire Chief John Herber said Friday budgetary and .staffing shortfalls left him no choice but to reduce the New Braunfels Fire Department’s initial response to structure fire calls outside the city limits.
Effective May I, NBFD will roll only two trucks — an engine and a tanker — and six firefighters on all fire calls in county areas outside the city.
Currently, NBFD sends the same response ta fires in the county as it does within the
Johnson passes certification, named NB Police Chief
By Ron Maloney
Staff Writer
New Braunfels no longer has a temporary police chief.
City Manager Charles Pinto announced Friday that Russell Johnson was named Chief of Police.
Johnson, 56, who had recently retired as assistant chief of the Cortez, Colo., police department, had been “interim” police chief since June 3, 2002, when he replaced Ray Douglas,
Douglas stepped down to take advantage of retirement incentives the city offered senior staffers in 2001 and 2002.
Within weeks of Johnson taking the office, the police department was rocked by turmoil that resulted in the firings of five officers most
long-time veterans and
the resignations of others.
Pinto had said that the per
il! a n c n t position was Johnson’s if he wanted it once he became a certified peace officer by the
JOHNSON 'I' • * a 8
Com rn i8-sion on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.
Johnson had been studying to take the license exam, and Friday morning he passed the test.
When he was informed, Pinto wrote a two-line memorandum to Johnson.
“Effective Friday, April 25, 26011, you are appointed to the position of police chief for the City of New Braunfels,” Pinto wrote.
See JOHNSON/3A
One PAC outspends the other by 10 times
By Dylan Jimenez
Staff Writer
In the? May 3 New Braunfels municipal elections, a pro-economic development political adion committee haw outspent by IO times a PAC supporting two proposition* that would reduce economic development dollars.
Finance reports filed Friday outline campaign cont re buttons and expenditures recorded after the April 4 finance report.
Propositions 2 and 3 would divert sales tax dollars f rom economic development to street maintenance,
The political action committee Citizens for Community Improvements opposes Propositions 2 and 3.
The PAC’s campaign treasurer, Ray Schoch, reportsInside
Abby ......... 4A
Qabbifiedb ...... 4-68
Comics................ ...JA
Crossword..........................7A
Forum ..........„ 5A
Movies ................. 4A
Obituaries......................,„.,3A
Sports ..................1-2B
Today .......... .2A
TV Grid.................... 3B
www.herald-zettung.com
Key Code 76
tnH2b 0000 I
city limits three trucks, an ambulance and 14 firefighters.
Berber said the city would look to the county and to volunteer fire de partments for mutual aid help in outlying a teas.
‘The biggest part of this
$4,535 in total political contributions $1,035 in contributions of $50 or less and $13,855.87 in political expenditures.
Tho PAC’s contributors are Gary Gum, $500; New Braunfels Lodging and Restaurant Association, $500; Greater New Braunfels Home Builders Association, $2 500.
The PAC Citizens for New Braunfels First supports Propositions 2 and 3.
Tile PAC’s campaign treasurer Ralph Buller reports $400 in total political contributions $150 in contributions of $50 or less. He also lists a $500 loan.
He has spent $1,288.36.
The FAC’s contributors are Claudia Valentine, $250 and
See OUTSPENDS/3A
7‘ ' rn
HAYL.EA TAYLOR/HnruW Antung
Youth Leadership of New Braunfels Class of 2003 members Cole Gleason and Kyle Jonas (center), listen intently to guest speaker Dr. W G. Newsberry give his speech on “Sculpting for Leadership" Friday night during their YLNB graduation in the New Braunfels High School Cafeteria.
whole change in our philosophy is we’re going to continue to respond to county fires, but in a limited capacity because of the need to make sure we have adequate capacity in the city limits,” Herber said.
Once a crew gets to the
scene of the fire report, it will report what it finds hack to the battalion chief.
The chief will then decide whether the department can or should send more help.
“I want to make sure I don’t get the wrong message out there and say the City of
New Braunfels will stop at the city line and let someone’s house bum. I’m not say-ing that at all. But the amount we can do is going to be less than in the past,” Herber said.
The choice was not an easy See NBFD/3A
YLNB program grooms future city leaders
By Dylan Jimenez Staff Writer
A small group cif county high school students got a different kind of (‘ducation than their peers this school year.
While most students were being lectured in the classroom, the 20 students of the Youth Leadership New Braunfels program rmaved a hands on, focused experience developed to mold them into community leaders.
The students are picked from the three local high schools by a screening committee, which looks at grades, extra-curricular activitles, attendance and a slew of oth er character information.
“We want to try to got the cream of the crop,” Hind Rita
Kau! maim, director of small business council for the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce Inc, This year 29 students graduated out of more than 200 who applied, 'fhe graduates attended monthly classes from 8:30 a.rn. to 2:30 p.m. throughout the regular school year Their List class was ear lier this month.
Morgan 'Tim hi in, junior, was one of three students from Smithson Valley who made it into the program. lier parents, Mary and Randall, said Morgan was always "alxive average Morgan said Youth Leadership turned an “idea” of leadership into a “complete understanding ” Randall said the program also helped his daughter
mature “It broadened her perspex* live,” Mary said Every year, Youth Leadership New Braunfels toadies a group of about 30 high school sophomores and juniors a curriculum focused on coin mumty involvement and leadership “Were trying to promote the youngsters into leadership roles in their community,” Kaufmann said.
At a graduation ceremony Friday, several students said they gained an understanding leadership and how the community works,
'fhe curriculum included both class time and excursions, all toward the goal of creating community-minded See It ADI RS/3A
For medals, confidence]
Photos by K. JESSIE SLATEN/Horaid /fitunq
(Above) Volunteer Kay Thurman helps Smithson Valley High School student Chris Jones celebrate his 40-meter race victory Friday afternoon at the first day of Special Olympics competition in Austin. (Below) Lyndee Seeger gets some positive re-enforcement following her third attempt at the softball throw in Austin Friday afternoon With all the volunteers around her shouting and clapping, even the somewhat quiet youngster managed a little laughSpecial Olympics helps athletes build sell esteem
By Sean Bowlin
Staff Writer
(PFLUGERVILLE) Learning social interaction, winning medals and gaining self-confidence in front of proud parents and teachers was wliat 23 s|)ecial athletes from New Braunfels were doing at the Area 13 Special Olympics at John B. Carnally High School,
'fhe two day event kicked off as the highly challenged athletes mostly in wheelchairs competed for medals in events like the softball throw, 25-meter
wheel*
meter
noon.
Ami
hair races and lh** 25 walk Friday after*
the at blote*, b ach
ors and pa rents talked about what the events, seemingly simple to a person not physically or ver
bally challenged, do fur th* athletes.
“It’sfun. Its fun because I get to do it with my friends.” said Krystal Elliot, 14,
New Braunfels Independent ,Sehool District Special Olympu s Coordinator Nancy Fkl*den nominated Elliot as a torch carrier for tie opening ceremony,
"Krystal is such a team player that’s so imper taut to her. Sh** has no idea that shes going to participate,’’ Ed*den said.
But Elliott was partied pat mg along with team mates NIOSI) teammates Ran Melle, Emily Villains* va aud Tiffany Gallagher. And their parent* were aux iously watching, feeding
See OLYMPICS/3 A
;