Online at: NewBraunfelsMagazine.com

Transcription

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A truly Energy Efficient home must be built utilizing
multiple engineered components working in sync to achieve
the highest level of Efficiency.
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Advanced Framing Techniques
Whole House Circulation Components
Engineered Heating and Cooling Systems
HEPA Engineered Filtration Systems
Complete Structure Spray Foam Insulation
EnergyWise™ Engineered Structure Guarantee
Rain Water Harvesting Systems
“Off The Grid” Construction Available
By using these techniques and over 20 years of Efficient
Building experience, we have achieved results averaging $160
per month in utilities for a 4400 SF home.
If you are serious about Energy Efficient Building call
us today!
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contents
10 New Braunfels Couple Has Deep Roots and
High Ambitions in Community
16 Have Dog. Will Travel.
Publishers:
Community Circular Magazines
a division of
20 Marrying for Love...Not Money!
23 Recipe from Encanto Grill
24 Camp Bullis: Meet Your Neighbor
28 San Antonio Family Helps Fight Against Terrorism
31 Finding the Right Personal Trainer
32 Flight to the North Pole
36 Exhibit Celebrates UTSA’s First Football Season
40 New Braunfels Railroad Museum
44 Can Ban Galvanizes Community
46 2 S-D, Inc: Dedicated Service in Building & Remodeling
48 New Braunfels Toddler is Still Missing
50 Historic San Antonio Street Bridge on Track
for Rehabilitation
53 Investing in the Future: Communities Helping Students
59 Puzzle Page
New Braunfels Magazine is a periodical published for the enjoyment of the greater New Braunfels
area. The magazine is intended to cover entertaining and informative topics that are of interest
to the New Braunfels area community. The magazine is not affiliated with the City of New
Braunfels or any other government agency and is supported by its advertisers.
We want your feedback!
What do you think of our all-new New Braunfels Magazine? As a reader, we want to hear from
you. If you have feedback on any of our articles, or the magazine itself, we want to know about it.
We encourage you to visit our web site at www.NewBraunfelsMagazine.com and let us know
what’s on your mind.
8
Graphic Design
Jessica Combs
Michelle Fortenberry
Katrina Gelino
Jared Hawkinson
Lucy Hutchenson
Sales
Rachel Danley
Sheryl Hawkinson
Administrative
Jared Hawkinson
Albert Salazar
To advertise your product or services in
New Braunfels Magazine, please contact
Rachel Danley at
210-348-3709 or by email at
[email protected]
New Braunfels Magazine is published by Community
Circular Magazines, a subsidiary product of WhiteFrisbie Media. It is provided for the enjoyment and
education of its readership. The information presented
in this magazine is believed to be true at the time of
publishing. Community Circular Magazines does not
guarantee or warranty any of the services or products
produced by the companies represented herein.
If you have any feedback on this publication, please
contact us at 210-348-3709 or visit our web site at
www.NewBraunfelsMagazine.com
9
L
ike many modern married couples, Bruce Boyer
and his wife Toya Ohlrich met while pursuing
very busy, successful careers. Toya is a fifth
generation native of New Braunfels’ founding families.
Bruce grew up in Houston and is an SMU educated
lawyer with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
He moved to town in the mid-70s as counsel for Texas
State Representative Bennie Bock and worked in his law
practice.
Toya is proud of her heritage and loves being from
New Braunfels. Her ancestors immigrated to Texas from
Germany in mid-1840s. Toya said the original group of
settlers landed in Indianola and had planned to travel to
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the Fischer-Miller Land Grant which later became the
Llano area. Because of the War with Mexico and the
shortage of wagons and horses, the trip inland to the Grant
land proved to be too far to traverse by foot. Fortunately,
Prince Solms of Braunfels, Germany was able to locate
and secure land around Comal Springs from Juan Martin
de Veramendi of San Antonio.
This turned out to be the best thing that could have
happened. Toya said. New Braunfels enjoys prodigious
natural springs, rich farmland, the alluring Hill Country
and it is located on a natural trade route between Austin
and San Antonio. These traits remain at the heart of why
New Braunfels is one of the fastest growing communities
along the “golden corridor.” Toya’s father, Jack Ohlrich, was
a rancher who survived the “Drought of Record” in the 50s.
Later on, he transitioned into real estate and was elected mayor.
Little did Toya know, she would one day go from being New
Braunfels’ first daughter to its first lady.
Upon first arriving in the city, Bruce joined the Chamber of
Commerce and contributed to a thriving private legal practice.
He has served as an attorney for Guada-Coma Savings and
Loan and New Braunfels Savings and Loan. In addition, he has
long been the attorney for the New Braunfels/Canyon Lake
Association of Realtors. He has been certified in residential
real estate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since
1983. He also has served as assistant county attorney, assistant
district attorney and as city prosecutor for 22 years.
Toya had been a Realtor for ten years when she earned her
broker’s license in 1982. She became one of the first investors
in Bruce’s new title company in 1985. They had been family
friends for many years, attending the same church, were active in
many of the same organizations and clubs and were passionate
about the growth of New Braunfels. Toya and Bruce married in
2000 and have three grown daughters and five grandchildren
between them.
Bruce recently completed two terms as Mayor of New
Braunfels (2005-2011). Bruce sings Toya’s praises and says
that all they have achieved they have done together. “She is
very accomplished in her own right and we work as a team,”
Bruce beamed. Toya is one of the top Realtors in the area and
has received many awards to her credit, including having been
featured for years in the San Antonio Business Journal.
Now they are working together on Bruce’s bid to be the next
22nd State District Judge. Bruce believes his experience as
mayor, bringing diverse interests in the city together to achieve
consensus gave him invaluable expertise as a mediator and
dispute settler for the city.
While he was Mayor of New Braunfels the city’s budgeting
process was changed, allowing more projects to be planned
and completed without raising property taxes. Bruce said the
expansion of the Civic Center, the South Tributary Drainage
Project, the Churchill Drainage Project and the widening
and extension of Walnut Street were largely the result of the
budgeting changes made while he was in office.
Bruce said that being mayor highlighted his desire to continue
to serve the community and make a difference in the lives of its
citizens. He has practiced law for 35 years and was a prosecutor
for more than 20 and would like to continue his public service
as district judge in the tri-county area.
“As mayor I showed that I listened to all points of view and
was willing to make the tough decisions to allow the city to
be well positioned for the future. While the role of a judge is
somewhat different and judges may have different styles, due to
my life experience I will preside with common sense, in a fair,
yet firm manner, as the circumstances dictate.”
As a real estate attorney, Bruce said “you’re dealing proactively
with business aspects of people’s lives.” But he has also spent
a lifetime volunteering in the community. These activities,
combined with his experience as a prosecutor, allow him
to bring a broader perspective to the bench than the other
Republican candidates running for election in the March 2012
primary.
Together, Bruce and Toya look forward to years of continued
service to the community they love. They both believe “that to
whom much is given, much is expected.”
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T
hat could be the motto of the New Braunfels Police Department’s
K-9 Unit.
These fabulous German Shepherds are doing their share of the
work to keep area citizens safe, and loving every minute of it. The
K-9 program has been in place since 1991. Not only do they serve
the New Braunfels area, they are on call 24 hours a day, and have
traveled as far as Llano, Fredericksburg, and Nixon to assist other law
enforcement agencies with the K-9s.
“What we would consider ‘work’ is play to them,” says Corporal
Bill Spence, K-9 Unit Supervisor. “Their ancestors hunted to survive,
so when they catch their prey, they get enormous satisfaction from
that work. They make our jobs so much easier and safer.”
The use of K-9 partners reduces injuries to human officers and
suspects, saving police departments untold dollars each year. When
a K-9 Unit dog is used in a search, enormous amounts of time are
saved. If they were called to the high school, for example, officers
might spend three hours searching a particular area. Dog patrols
can search the same area in about 45 minutes and detect
drugs, the suspect, and even pinpoint the location of the
suspect in the facility.
“We are so grateful that Police Chief Tom Wibert
recognizes the benefits of the program,” he
continues. “He doubled the size of the program
when he came on board and wants to add to
it. He sees the value of the K-9 program,
through both increased officer safety
and crime reduction.”
There are four German Shepherds currently in service: Hero,
partner of Cpl. Bill Spence; Hondo, partner of Ptl. Chris Scott;
Niko, partner of Ptl. Jason Tucker; and Bak, partner of Ptl. Jack Kuhl.
Two of the dogs are from the Czech Republic and the two newest
dogs are from Hungary. European dogs are chosen for strength and
structure, as well as superior intelligence and loyalty. Dogs are usually
placed into service when approximately two years old, and tend to
work for 6 – 8 years.
These dogs are trained to ‘locate’ – whether that means people,
evidence or drugs. They are continually trained to detect a variety
of drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and
methamphetamines.
They also ‘locate’ suspects through scent tracking. An example of
their successful use involved the location of an elderly Alzheimer’s
patient who had wandered away from his care facility. After the
staff and family had searched for several hours, the K-9 unit was
dispatched, and located the man in less than 20 minutes, ensuring
his safe return to the facility.
Corporal Spence is quick to highlight the many successes of the
dogs and officers in his unit. He maintains that they are all part of a
great team, working together for the good of the community.
By using canine help, police officers are able to deter criminal
activity. Most of the time, a suspect will choose to surrender, rather
than take his chances with one of the K-9 Unit dogs.
“The suspect will say, ‘I give up! Give me the cuffs and I’ll put
them on myself, just please don’t release that dog!” says Spence. “That
makes our job so much safer.”
Left to right: Cpl. Bill Spence with K-9 partner Hero, Ptl. Chris Scott
with K-9 partner Hondo, NB Police Chief Tom Wibert, Ptl. Jason
Tucker with K-9 partner Niko, Ptl. Jack Kuhl with K-9 partner Bak
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Ptl. Tucker with Niko as he
identifies hidden drugs in the
taillight of a semi truck trailer
Ptl. Tucker demonstrates an exercise with K-9
Hondo who was released from the vehicle by a
remote door opener to detain a suspect
Ptl. Scott kneels with Hondo and a
1st Place Patrol Dog plaque awarded
by the National Narcotic Detector
Dog Association in 2011
Ptl. Kuhl with K-9 partner Bak
The number of times a dog actually has
to ‘bite’ is really quite small, despite what is
depicted on television.
In his 25 years of police work, and 18 years
in the K-9 unit, Spence says he has hundreds
of captures, and only three ‘bites.’ It seems
criminals want to avoid the clutches of a
German Shepherd’s enormous 850 psi jaw
strength.
“The last person who was bitten was armed
and dangerous, wanted on previous robberies,
and was high on cocaine and heroin. He made a bad choice. This was six years
ago,” says Spence. “Hero, my current partner, has over 100 captures to his
credit in five years of service, and no bites.”
Hero did have a big day last March, when he detected the ‘transfer odor of
drugs’ on $299,800 in cash that was hidden in the bed of a pickup truck on a
traffic stop. Monies seized in these operations are returned to the department,
and a portion of it reaches the K-9 Unit, where it is used for training and
equipment.
One aspect of the K-9 unit’s job is the public relations role these dogs play in
the community. Many times, the dogs are used in school presentations and at
community events, to show their talents and skills. They are approachable and
friendly when not ‘on duty.’
Perhaps part of the credit for this laid-back attitude goes to the police officers,
who tend their charges full time. “That is something that people often don’t
understand about a K-9 unit,” Spence says. “We take our dogs home with
us. We don’t have a central kennel where they are all kept. They are not ‘pets’
exactly. They are working dogs, but they are very safe around families. These are
very intelligent, stable dogs. Almost all of the officers in the unit have children,
and we consider these dogs part of the family.”
But part of that trade off is that they’re always on call, 24/7, 365 days per
year. They are never really off duty. If a call comes in, they go.
“But don’t get me wrong!” he continues. “We love our jobs and we love our
special assignment. Watching these dogs work is amazing.”
“I truly have the best job in the police department, the best unit, the best
employer,” says Cpl. Spence with obvious admiration for his entire team. “And
most of all, I have the best partner.”
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Marrying For Love … Not Money!
By Attorney James N. Voeller
Have you ever wondered what might
happen to your estate if you died and
your spouse remarried?
e following is one of the most
tragic stories that I have heard in my
30 years as a lawyer.
Several years ago a couple, Don and
Judy, came into my office to discuss
their estate planning goals. When
I asked them what it was that was
motivating them to do their planning,
Don sadly shook his head and began
telling me the following story:
“Jim, I grew up as the only child of
my hard-working parents. My great
grandfather immigrated to South
Texas from Germany in the 1800’s.
roughout my childhood, and as a
young man, I worked alongside of my
father on our ranch. I can still hear him
saying to me with pride, “Someday this
will all be yours, son.”
It was a hard life, and money was
tight, but we always had enough. My parents taught me how to work
hard and they taught me to always be careful with money.
Life went on just fine through the years until one day, several years
ago, my mother got sick and died. Dad stayed on the ranch as long
as he could, but eventually he moved into an assisted living facility
nearby. While he was at the assisted living facility, my father met a
woman, Helen, to whom he grew very attached. Within no time my
dad started talking about getting married to Helen.
ere wasn’t anything that I could do about it. Dad married Helen
and seemed happy enough. About three months later, my father
became very ill. He died in his sleep, with Helen by his side.
A few days after the funeral, I found out that while he was at the
assisted living facility, my father signed a new will–leaving all of his
assets to his new wife, Helen. I immediately hired a lawyer to help me
try to unravel this mess.
Jim, I went to the probate court and tried to prove that my father
lacked capacity or that he signed his new will under duress – but
I lost. Meanwhile, during the litigation, Helen had a heart attack
and died. Helen’s will left everything to her two daughters. Helen’s
daughters now own the ranch that had been in my family for over
150 years. Oh, and by the way,” Don Said, “did I mention that the
ranch was located on one of the four corners of a major intersection
on Loop 1604? When I lost the ranch, it had already become a multimillion dollar commercial property!
We’re here today, because we don’t want anything like this nightmare
to happen to our kids when we die.”
Online at: CommunityCircular.com
After expressing my sympathy to Don for his tragedy, I explained
to Judy and him that most of my clients have arranged their affairs
like my wife and I have arranged ours. I explained that when I die, my
half of our community property will be left in trust for my wife. She
will be the trustee and the beneficiary of the trust. She gets to use the
income that the trust produces and if she needs the principal, she can
use that too. But if my wife chooses to remarry she will lose her interest
in the trust unless she gets a prenuptial agreement with her new spouse.
e new spouse has to agree that he will never make a claim against
the trust assets that I leave for her – or against her assets. I don’t mind
if she gets remarried, I just want to make sure that her new spouse is
marrying for love–and not money!
When I explained this option to Don and Judy, they looked at
at’s what
ey had come into my office discouraged at what
had happened to them, but they left with a new confidence that their
children would never have to experience the type of tragedy they had
gone through.
If you would like to learn more about protecting your spouse and
children through thoughtful estate planning, call us at (210) 6513851 for a complimentary initial consultation.
The Voeller Law Firm
19311 FM 2252 San Antonio, TX 78266
Phone: (210) 651-3851 email: [email protected]
21
Chicken Breast Marinade
Juice of 2 medium size lemons (strain for no pulp or seeds)
Juice of 2 medium size oranges, Valencia preferred (strain for no pulp or seeds)
1
⁄4 cup of olive oil
1 garlic clove, smashed and chopped
1 teaspoon of fresh, cracked black pepper
1
⁄4 teaspoon of Mexican oregano
1
⁄2 teaspoon of meat tenderizer (make sure tenderizer has papian as ingredient)
W
ith holiday gatherings just around
the corner, delicious recipes take
center stage. Although roasted
turkey, ham, and veggie casseroles are triedand-true choices, surprise your guests this year
with a recipe by George Ojeda, Executive Chef
at Encanto Mexican Grill. “It’s a great dish for
the fall because it can be made on a cold winter
day to warm up and turkey breast can be used
instead of chicken breast,” said Chef George.
The creamy and spicy dish pairs well with white
rice and sautéed vegetables. If you’re out of time
or simply want to try it out before attempting
the recipe at home, dash into Encanto Mexican
Grill for a taste.
Directions:
1. Place 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast (about 6-7 oz each) in a large shallow pan.
2. Squeeze the juice from the lemon halves and oranges into a separate bowl, then
whisk in the oil, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper or place all ingredients in a blender
and blend for about 20 seconds
3. Pour this marinade over the chicken. Place the lemon halves in between the chicken
breasts, cover the pan tightly. Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.
4. Grill the chicken, occasionally turning and brushing with any remaining marinade
until the juice runs clear or the inner temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Remove
from the grill and place on a plate and pour cream sauce (see recipe below) over
chicken breast.
Chipotle Cream Sauce Recipe
16 oz heavy whipping cream
1
⁄4 cup of white wine (Chardonnay or Pinot Gris)
1 tablespoon of shallot, finely minced (substitute white onion)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1
⁄4 teaspoon garlic, finely minced
3 oz of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
8 oz chicken stock, warmed before adding
2 tablespoon of roux (see recipe below)
1
⁄4 teaspoon of white pepper
Kosher salt to taste
Directions:
1. In a medium sauce pan at medium high heat, add olive oil and simmer
pan (to coat entire pan with oil)
2. Add shallots and garlic. Sweat for about 2 minutes, and stir with a
spoon.
3. Deglaze pan with white wine and reduce by half (about 2-3 minutes)
4. Add cream and warm chicken stock. Bring to a light simmer.
5. Add chipotle peppers with adobo sauce
6. Simmer sauce on low heat for about 5 minutes
7. Add white pepper and salt, if needed.
8. Using a hand mixer, blend entire sauce until smooth. (If using a
blender instead, do not cover entire blender with cap, allow steam to
escape to prevent sauce from overflowing.)
9. Adjust seasoning or add more chile peppers, if more heat is desired (be
sure to blend again).
10. Thicken sauce with roux (see below).
Roux Recipe
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
Directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Online
CommunityCircular.com
at: NewBraunfelsMagazine.com
22 at:Online
Place butter in a small sauté pan at medium high heat.
Melt butter until foamy.
Add flour and whisk until flour and butter are incorporated.
Set aside for later use.
23
Online
at:Online
24
25
Online
26 at:Online
Jefferson Bank is here to meet
all your home loan needs.
This is personal to us.
For many years, Jefferson Bank has been committed to promoting homeownership in our community,
providing mortgages, home improvement and home equity loans, and special financing programs for
the citizens of Bexar and surrounding counties.
•Conventional Fixed
Rate Mortgages
•Home Improvement Loans
•Adjustable Rate Mortgages
•Construction Loans
•Home Equity Loans
•Portfolio Loans
•Federal Housing
Administration Loans (FHA)
•Veteran Administration
Loans (VA)
Whether you are buying a home, building or improving a home or refinancing a mortgage, you will
experience service at its finest. Our mortgage specialists have a wide range of competitive products
and can help you find the one that meets your special circumstances.
For more information, visit jeffersonbank.com
or call (210) 736-7700 today.
jeffersonbank.com
27
M
ike and Rosa Reinert of Champion
Springs were always dog people.
For years their toy poodle and loveable
mutt completed their family. That was
until they opened their home and hearts
to a dog with a greater cause.
“I saw a story on the news about the puppies being bred at Lackland
and it intrigued me,” recalls Mike. “I thought it was a great way to give
back to this country and do my part in the fight against terrorism.”
Soon, the Reinerts became one of hundreds of families who are
playing a vital role in the Canine Breeding and Development Center’s
Puppy Program. They became foster parents to 10-week-old Quick,
an energetic, black Labrador Retriever who would call their Stone
Oak residence “home” for the next eight months.
“I am held in awe of all the volunteers who have done so much for
this program,” said Scott Thomas, CBDC program manager. “I can
never express strongly enough how the backbone of this program is
our volunteers, who are to me our heroes.”
Thomas runs the 10-year-old program out of Lackland Air Force
Base in San Antonio. A division of the Transportation Security
Administration, the program is part of a global effort to breed
working explosives detection dogs. Center officials are breeding
better detector dogs to work at airports, ferry
terminals and rail stations, while regular
citizens are performing a vital part
by serving as foster families
for the puppies until one year of age. In addition to protecting our
nation’s mass-transit systems, puppies bred and raised in the TSA
puppy program have gone on to provide security for Air Force One.
In order to keep program officials on task and constantly reminded
of the role these dogs play in our national security, each dog is named
after someone who lost their life in the 9/11 attacks or soldiers who
have paid the ultimate price in the fight against terrorism overseas.
Quick was named after Army Sgt. Marquees A. Quick, a 28-year-old
soldier from Alabama who was killed Aug. 19, 2006 in Ramadi, Iraq,
when his unit came under a grenade attack on a mission.
As “Puppywalkers,” the Reinerts main responsibility was to
socialize Quick and get him comfortable around people. From walks
in crowded parking lots to monthly trips to area car shows, Quick
quickly became accustomed to the different sights and sounds of the
traveling public; a skill that he would eventually put to use on the
job.
“We love going to car shows, so Quick would come with us,”
explained Mike. “It worked for us and fell right into what we liked to
do on the weekends. Just to be around bunches of people and loud
noises were perfect for him. He loved to run, so we’d take him on
playgrounds and near construction sites so he could learn to navigate
different terrain and different stimuli.”
Thomas says without the dedication and commitment of foster
families like the Reinerts the program would not be as successful.
“Many people think that dogs raised in a kennel environment
their entire lives would be more adept when they reach the right
age for training, but the opposite is the case,” said Thomas. “Our
Puppywalker families are exposing these puppies to sights, sounds
and scenarios across the city that we could never accomplish on a
weekly basis. A kennel environment is the same day after day, but a
family’s home environment is constantly changing from workday to
Dogs raised through the TSA program, like
Bosely, have gone on to provide security to
Air Force One and the Dali Lama.
Online
at:Online
28
Quick is a TSA success who today keeps
travelers safe inspecting cargo and baggage for the New York Port Authority.
Puppy Dolan is the 500th dog bred through the program.
He is currently being raised by a San Antonio family.
Yellow-Dogs in the TSA program, like Uvanni, are recognizable
by their “uniforms.” These red vests let passers by know they
are working.
weekend, the school year to summer. It’s ideal.”
The process certainly worked for Quick. Once the Reinerts role
was complete, Quick entered training and today is working in New
Jersey for the New York Port Authority.
“I knew giving him up was part of the deal, and it was tough. It’s
a family member who you’ll teach, train, and send out in the world
to do good,” admitted Mike. “What I really appreciated was after he
left our home and graduated from the program, program officials
have kept in touch with us. We still get to know all the great things
Flag, one of the more than 500 dogs bred through
the TSA program, is trained to keep America’s
domestic traveling public safe.
Quick is doing on the job. We know, in some small way, we’re a part
of that success.”
The Reinerts enjoyed their experience with Quick so much that
they soon welcomed Noel into their home and lives as well.
“I’d do it again, because I whole-heartedly believe in what they are
doing,” added Mike. “I always believe that if one of these dogs, mine
or one in San Antonio, is able to save a life, that to me is what it’s all
about.”
If you are interested in learning more about the TSA Puppy
Program or want to be a volunteer Puppywalker, you can visit
www.tsa.gov and enter “Puppy Program,” or call 210-671-1624.
The program depends on volunteer families in San Antonio and
Austin, Texas to raise puppies from age ten weeks to 12 months,
when they can enter explosives detection training. During this time,
families are responsible for providing their pups with a well-rounded,
socialized and nurturing environment.
The program supplies food, equipment and medical care for the
puppies while in foster care. The pups are returned to the program
for one week each month for medical and behavioral evaluation.
The program provides feedback to the foster families on how the
puppy is developing. At approximately one year of age, the pups
are returned to the program to start their official training.
Potential foster families must have a secure fenced yard, a vehicle
in which the pup can be transported, no more than two other dogs
in the home, and the time to raise a very active puppy.
Due to the overwhelming generosity of the American public, the
program currently has a very lengthy waiting list to adopt a puppy.
However, if you would like to be added to the list please visit www.
tsa.gov and enter “Puppy Program.”
29
31
flight to the
Some Special Kids Visit Santa’s Workshop
By Scott Sparks
Now in its 27th year, this annual event includes kids from “0 to 14.” Each
year, up to 100 kids are chosen for this special adventure to visit Santa at his
workshop because each one is ill with cancer. Let’s pray not, but this may be
the last Christmas that some of these kids have outside of a hospital.
This annual event is made possible by an all-volunteer partnership between
the American Cancer Society, United Airlines, a private carrier, and the
Alamo Heights High School Interact Club with sponsorship from the Alamo
Heights Rotary Club. Local employees at the airport in San Antonio deserve
a special nod to make this “Flight to the North Pole” seem as real as possible.
The non-profit Partnership for Corporate Aviation Training plays an integral
role in organizing and planning the Flight to the North Pole.
Once everyone is onboard the plane, the windows shades are drawn shut and
the plane taxis around for about 20 minutes to simulate the “flight.” While en
route to the North Pole, the kids are entertained by clowns and told the story
about this magical plane. Upon arrival at Santa’s Workshop (the plane
actually stops inside the climate-controlled environment of a private carrier’s
hangar), the kids are greeted one-by-one by none other than Mrs. Clause
herself! Each child immediately receives a stuffed toy and an elf’s hat to wear.
The kids are free to explore this huge, sparkling, magical world of Santa’s
Workshop. There’s a 45-foot Christmas tree with presents galore underneath,
toys and dolls may come to life at any moment, holiday music fills the air,
n Saturday, December 3rd, nearly 100 excited kids will gather at
and everyone gets all the chicken nuggets, pizza slices and juice-boxes that
a United Airlines terminal at San Antonio International Airport for a
they want. All adult and high school volunteers are dressed in brightly colored
very special flight to the North Pole to visit Santa’s Workshop. Each child
may be accompanied to the airport by up to four people, but only one lucky festive costumes and each one is there to bring joy to these special children.
adult gets a boarding pass to accompany their child on this magical trip.
A local professional clown troop called the Jolly Joeys entertains the kids
with their antics, paints their faces, and creates balloon animals. Last year,
Batman and Raggedy Ann and Andy mingled among the kids, and this
year, they hope to add the Spurs’ Coyote to the cast of characters. They’re
also hoping to have an interactive Jack-in-the-Box this year that’s built by
airport mechanics.
Thanks to the San Antonio Airport Fire Department, the kids can explore “Big
Bertha,” a huge fire truck, and they can tour the spiffy equipment onboard and
the fire suits worn by during emergencies. A very long and sleek “funny car”
dragster is also expected to be on hand like it was last year, and with adult
supervision, the kids can play with remote-control airplanes.
Volunteers from radio station K-LOVE 91.3 play holiday music for the kids.
Last year, they spotted a 5-year-old boy in a cute cowboy outfit so they
played a country song for him. To everyone’s delight, this boy danced up a
storm and was joined at the end by a little girl. After the song ended, the
boy told the girl that he had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the girl told him
she had lymphoma. Kids being kids (but also poignantly reminding those
within earshot that this was a special occasion), the boy and girl bantered
for “bragging rights” about who was sickest.
Finally, a private jet called “The Nick 1” appears and the door slowly opens. It’s
Santa Clause!!! Santa welcomes and thanks each child for visiting his workshop.
After each child gets special attention and Santa must leave, Mrs. Clause
joins him inside The Nick 1 and the kids wave to wish them a good flight.
Students from Alamo Heights HS help
with the Flight to the North Pole.
Soon after, the kids board their “flight” home with their goodies in tow
and they re-join their family and friends at the terminal who’ve been
waiting for their return. What a story each child now has to share about
their great adventure to Santa’s Workshop in the North Pole!
If you want to donate funds
or volunteer for this event:
Call the San Antonio chapter of the American Cancer Society at
210-614-4212 and designate “Flight to the North Pole” for your
donation.
Or contact Connie Harrison, a volunteer (who is also Mrs. Clause
at this event but that’s a secret), at 210-345-5460 or email her
at [email protected].
r
brighten the day fo
The Jolly Joeys help
nding the event.
many children atte
33
34
35
T
he University of Texas at San
Antonio fi nally has a football team
to play on Saturdays this fall. Go
Roadrunners!!!
It all began in March 2009 when UTSA’s Athletic Director Lynn
Hickey, the only female AD in Texas to oversee both men’s and
women’s sports, hired Larry Coker as head football coach to guide
and develop the new program from scratch. Coker has impressive
credentials, having led the Miami Hurricanes to a national
football championship in 2001. After two years of preparation,
the Roadrunners kick off their inaugural football season against
Northeastern State (Oklahoma) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 3
at their home stadium, the Alamodome.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Institute of Texan
Cultures (ITC) opened “Football: The Exhibit” last May. This
traveling exhibit examines the science, mechanics and technology
behind the game and explores the history and cultural phenomenon
of football. “The physics and math at work in a game of football
are extraordinary,” said Lupita Barrerra, director of education and
interpretation at the museum. “But we’re not going to show you a
lot of equations on a blackboard. Football is a contact sport and this
is a contact exhibit.”
Organized by the Arkansas Museum of Discovery, “Football: The
Exhibit” is designed to be highly interactive, encouraging hands-on
participation by kids of all ages. The exhibit is comprised of nine
different zones, each one with a theme that addresses a different
aspect of football: History of the Game, The Forward Pass, In the
Open Field, On the Line of Scrimmage, The Kicking Game, Medical
Technology, Cheerleaders and Bands, and Football and Society.
The Institute of Texan Cultures is the museum of the University of Texas
at San Antonio and serves as the forum for the understanding and appreciation
of Texas and Texans through research, collections, exhibits, special events, and cultural celebrations. Affiliated
with the Smithsonian Institution and located at HemisFair Park, the museum features 45,000 square feet of
exhibit space and is family-friendly with many hands-on activities for kids.
Location: 801 E. Durango Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78205. On the UTSA HemisFair Park Campus and only a
short walk from the Alamo and the Riverwalk.
Regular hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
Admission: $8 for adults (ages 12-64); $7 for seniors (ages 65+); $6 for children (ages 3-11); free with
membership, UTSA or Alamo Colleges identification.
For more information: Call 210-458-2300 or visit TexanCultures.com.
Online
36 at: Online
Each zone features videos, artifacts, text, and hands-on activities.
Visitors are invited to have fun and learn while engaging in the
following activities and many more:
• Step into the passing cage to test your throwing skills.
• Race on a short track against the lights that move at the
speed of professional players.
• Squeeze the handle and compare the strength of your grip
to professional linemen.
• Use an arthroscope to examine the inside of a simulated
knee.
• Test your reaction time to sound and light cues to compare
with friends and family.
• Perform collision experiments on the momentum track.
• Test your balance on a balance board.
Beyond learning about the science and math underlying all of these
activities, the exhibit showcases the history of football, its traditions,
and America’s obsession with the sport.
Because “Football: The Exhibit” is a traveling show, it targets a
national audience instead of focusing on a particular region. That’s
why ITC designed a complementary exhibit to specifically take
a closer look at football culture in the Lone Star State from the
perspective of its residents.
ITC sent oral historians into the community to ask Texans one
simple question: “What does football mean to you?” Visitors to
the museum are invited to listen to their answers, to hear what
Texas football means to players, coaches, parents, cheerleaders, band
Moms, fans and many others at ITC’s complementary exhibit, “Texas
Football: In Their Words.” Their responses shed a light on how
football impacted their lives and influenced Texas culture.
A visitor to this section of the exhibit is greeted at the entrance by
a life-size cutout of none-other-than new Head Coach Larry Coker.
When you push his button, he says “I know the fan base here and the
interest in football in Texas is just off the charts!”
Rhett Rushing, an oral historian at ITC, says “Texans do football
better than anyone else on earth. No one on earth invests as much of
their spirit, energy, and even self worth into football like Texans.” He
says “Football defines us as dreamers, as hard workers, as the best we
can be. Football means everything in Texas.”
“Football: The Exhibit” remained open at the Institute of Texan
Cultures long enough for two home games to be played by the
Roadrunners at the Alamodome in early September. The exhibit
closed after September 13, but football at UT San Antonio has only
just begun.
Permanent Exhibits at the Institute
of Texan Cultures
The Back 40
This outdoor exhibit offers a hands-on learning experience
in a historic Texas setting. The museum’s living history
complex includes a one-room schoolhouse, a “dog trot” log
house, a barn, an army barracks, and an adobe house – all
typical of Texas in the mid to late 1800s. Dressed in period
clothing, knowledgeable instructors offer glimpses into the
day-to-day hardships and joys of 19th century Texans. To
reserve group tours, call (210) 458-2291
Leaving Home, Finding Home: Texas Families Remember
the Mexican Revolution
This exhibit explores the turmoil and social upheaval that
was set in motion by the Mexican Revolution of 1910 when
thousands of Mexicans fled their homeland to seek refuge in
Texas. This personal experience exhibit incorporates photos
and oral histories as told by Texans who share stories of
hardship and achievement that were passed-down to them
by their immigrant families who assimilated their Mexican
heritage into their new Texas home.
37
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I have been lucky enough to hunt in some far flung corners of the
world, but I’m not a gun nut. Put a rifle in my hands, let me send a
few rounds down range to get it dialed in and I’m going hunting.
That’s what I’ve done on the Alaskan tundra, carrying a borrowed T/C
Encore in .300 Win. Mag, and in Africa with the PH’s .375 H&H of
dubious pedigree and cracked stock held together with a piece of bicycle
innertube. I’m not, or wasn’t, a person who really ever thought about
owning a custom gun.
Custom. The word alone conjures up images of fiddleback walnut
and a receiver cut by a third-generation engraver whose grandfather
came over on a boat sometime around the turn of the century. I suppose
those custom guns of my imagination were accurate, but in my mind
they were primarily works of art, brought out of the gun case only to be
passed around at cocktail parties.
I wasn’t about to own a gun like that, more for the gun’s sake
than mine. I tend to treat my stuff a little rougher than most, and I
don’t get invited to many cocktail parties. If I owned a custom rifle,
or a custom rifle like I imagined them to be, I’d be too scared to
take it in the woods for fear I’d scratch it.
Truth be told, I was more than a bit ignorant about what a custom
rifle should be, until I found myself on the phone with custom riflemaker Charlie Sisk. He asked me questions about what I like to hunt,
where I liked to hunt and how I like to hunt. He asked about my body
type and what I thought of recoil. (Not a big fan.)
Not long after that, I became the proud owner of a Sisk Point Five in
.308. Listening to Charlie’s advice, I closed my eyes, pulled the gun to
my shoulder and opened my eyes to find I was looking directly through
the scope. No bobbing and weaving trying to find the sight picture.
I sent a few rounds down range, off-hand, and managed to ding the
bowling pin a couple of times.
On the bench, it was even more impressive.The gun shot better than I
thought I was capable of shooting. And, it ain’t half bad looking. In fact,
at my next cocktail party, I just might pull it out of the safe and show it
off to all my friends.
A custom rifle can be synonymous with art, if accuracy is your idea
of beauty, accuracy that comes from fit and performance. Not unlike a
knife that feels like an extension of your hand or a car that’s built for both
speed and comfort. And, well, if it looks nice, you hit the trifecta.
39
New Braunfels Railroad Mu
Home to Train Modeling So
O
nce upon a time, the International Great Northern
Railroad (I&GN) built a railroad from Longview
through Palestine, Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels, San
Antonio and south through Laredo. The year was 1880 and
rail travel was the only game in town if you wanted to go
anywhere or ship anything fast through the first part of the
20th century.
In the early years, the station agent at the train depot
tapped out messages in Morse code and transmitted them to
other depots along the line using the telegraph. These were
abbreviated notes that typed out the code and transmitted
them through a network of electric lines, the precursors to
land-based phone lines later used by Western Union.
New Braunfels Railroad Museum President David Albright
said “Telegraph messages were the first form of texting.” The railroad
telegraph was a party-line and everybody had their own code. It was
all about letting everyone along the line know where the trains were
and when they were supposed to go. Albright said, “The whole idea
was to keep the trains moving on time and to avoid collision.”
Online
40 at:Online
The existing New Braunfels Train Depot, built in
1907, was made of a new construction method utilizing
concrete blocks and served as an operating station until 1976,
just a few short years after Amtrak took over all passenger rail
travel in the U.S. There it sat, deteriorating visibly in the heart
of downtown as Missouri Pacific freight trains, often a
hundred cars long, ran by just a few feet from the building
vibrating its tall Victorian glass windows up to 30 times a day.
Then in 1986 the New Braunfels Historic Railroad
& Modelers Society made a deal with the city, who now
owns the real estate, to renovate the old building and
establish a museum. Since then, the New Braunfels depot
has been fully renovated and transformed into a repository of
restored full-size train cars. These include a cosmetically
restored steam engine, a box car, a bright red Mopac caboose
and a Pullman dining car that can be rented for parties,
dinners and meetings. The depot also houses artifacts,
memorabilia and several fully functioning model trains that
mimic life-sized rail yards and their switching systems.
By Susie Marx
useum
ociety
The New Braunfels Railroad Museum’s mission
statement emphasizes preservation, education and children’s
activities. Albright said Kids Run the Train is their most
outstanding O and S scale traveling module. With it, children
of all ages learn how the train works and how to operate the
throttle. They are then allowed to operate the model train
under the supervision of a master engineer. Certificates and
pocket cards are given to each new junior engineer.
One of the exhibits tells the fascinating story of how
the railroads became the time keepers of the nation. Albright
said that before 1883, everybody in the U.S. ran on ‘sun time’.
There were 53 recognized times in the U.S. when I&GN
started running in New Braunfels. This would never do.
41
Superintendents got together and asked Frank Allen
to figure out how to harmonize varying times
across the states into a system that would help the
trains run safely and on time.
Allen came up with the idea of the
Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific Time
zones. They were all officially adopted on Nov.
18, 1883. Each day at noon, Eastern Time, the
Naval Observatory in Washington D.C. sent the
correct time over the telegraph. Then in 1893,
following a catastrophic train crash involving a 4
second time delay, all watches were required to
keep accurate time within 30 seconds a week.
Everyone synchronized their watches daily
and all railroad employees were required
to carry a pocket watch, which was
inspected every month.
Albright said about 6,000
visitors sign the register every year
and another 2,000 come through
the museum during Wassailfest. In
the baggage room visitors see an
antique Sheffield Velocipede, a
3-wheel hand car that traveled the rails
with rowing motion and auxiliary foot
power. People used velocipedes to travel on
the tracks when they weren’t carrying trains
and railroad employees used them to inspect the
tracks. There you’ll also find photographs and diagrams of
armored trains, which came into existence after the Civil War
but weren’t used until WWI.
THE MUSEUM IS LOCATED AT
302 WEST SAN ANTONIO STREET
www.newbraunfelsrailroadmuseum.org
OR CALL US AT(830) 627-2447
Membership in the New Braunfels Historic railroad
and Modelers Society is open to all who are interested.
Meetings are held at the depot on the first and
second Thursdays of each month at 7:15 p.m. and is
open Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is free.
Online
at:Online
42
43
The Can Ban goes into effect Jan. 1, 2012.
For more information visit the city website at
www.nbtexas.org
New Braunfels’ CAN BAN
Galvanizes Community
On Aug. 28, New Braunfels City Council approved ordinance 2011-65
banning disposable containers on the Comal River within city limits.
O
n Aug. 28, New Braunfels City
Council approved ordinance
2011-65 banning disposable
containers on the Comal River within
city limits. Mayor Gale Pospisil, a
New Braunfels city council member
from 2003-9, took office in May and
said that she and council went down
to the river this summer and agreed
that they had to do something about
the huge amount of litter left behind
by the tourists recreating on it.
Ordinance 2011-65, also
known as the “Can Ban,” brought
forth an immediate cry from many
tubing tourists and the businesses that
support them. They allege that the ban
isn’t about litter but drinking alcohol
on the river. “Can the Ban” supporters
also question the legality of the new
ordinance because only the state, under
the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, has jurisdiction over waterways.
A group known as “Tourist
Related Businesses of Comal County,”
44
filed a lawsuit in Comal County
District Court on Sept. 28 and circulated a petition that gathered more
than 4,300 signatures. This led to a
record breaking turn-out for a referendum ballot on Nov. 8. Even so, most
of New Braunfels’ voting residents (58
percent) voted to uphold the ban.
Calls to “Can the Ban” plaintiffs and their attorney, James Ewbank
swered but Ewbank is on record as
saying he would seek to combine this
lawsuit with one filed in 2007, against
another New Braunfels’ ordinance
restricting the size of coolers allowed
on the river.
Since there are laws restricting
the transport of alcohol in passenger
vehicles and prohibiting alcohol in
public parks, it would seem that the
“Can the Ban” supporters have a
point. In any case, how will the city
enforce such an ordinance?
New Braunfels Police Chief
Tom Wibert said that he hopes to
By Susan Marx
prevent violations, not write tickets.
Officers will be posted at entry and exit
points to the river and strategic points
in-between. They will also have boats on
the water.
“The can ordinance is a
piece of a bigger puzzle,
designed to make the river
better for tourists and will
attract more people,
better behaved people,”
-Wibert said.
He believes business owners will profit
by these changes because the tourists and
families attracted to a calmer, safer river
are the types who spend more money.
“The Tuesday after Memorial
weekend, the bottom of the river was
shiny with empty cans,” Wibert said.
The exit area was ankle deep in beer
cans, which had to be shoveled out. “I
was appalled by the trash,” Wibert
continued but he affirmed Pospisil’s
Photo courtesy of TGCCdiving.org
P
TGCCdiving
hoto cour tesy of
.org
ate in river
Divers particip
e Comal River
clean-up on th
stance that the ordnance is not about
banning alcohol.
Pospisil said that tourists can
still bring their beverage-of-choice in
thermoses, canteens and other types of
non-disposable containers. In fact, she
said, the city recently amended a parks
ordinance to allow people to bring
alcohol through the five riverside
parks (Hinman Island, Prince Solms,
Last Tubers Exit, Cypress Bend and
River Acres) in non-disposable containers. They are still prohibited from
consuming alcohol in the parks.
“Given some time, with proper
marketing, I believe we’ll be able to offer
our visitors a more pleasant experience
on the river,” Pospisil said.
An ad hoc river committee,
headed by Andy Sansom of the Texas
State University’s River Systems Institute held a public hearing on Dec. 5 and
made recommendations to city council
later the same week based on public
comment on how to manage and care
for the river – which is fed by Comal
Springs and the Edwards Aquifer, the
primary source of drinking water in the
city.
The most controversial of
these recommendations is a $5 flat fee
for all people accessing the river.
Schlitterbahn Water Park owner Jeff
Joanne Vest, Chairperson of Trashfest event hosted by
Texas Gulf Coast Council of Diving Clubs (TGCC
Henry said his family is prepared to
sue the city on the grounds that the fee
infringes on his private property
rights. Currently, only tubers and river
outfitters are required to pay a $1.25
river management fee. The new rule
would raise that standing fee to $5 and
begin charging private users entering
the river from private parks.
The river committee has also
proposed adding a centralized public
inum
Bags of alum
Photo courtes
beer cans coll
y of TGCCd
ec
Ph o t o c o
ur tesy of
TG C C d
iving.or
g
Trash
f ro m t h e c o l l e c t e d
Comal R
i ve r
parking area, improving the process
for getting tubers in and out of the
river and issuing season passes for
private property owners along the
river so they can use it free of charge.
City Council is expected to vote on
these recommendations before the end
of the year.
Comal Riv
ted from the
shfest
er during Tra
iving.org
45
T
im Scotch and Kevin Seelhammer joined forces in 2002
and founded, New Braunfels based company, 2 S-D, Inc.,
to provide services in residential, commercial, and multifamily construction. As a family owned and oriented company, they
created the name from their saying, “to our sons and daughters.” The
two both agree, “We are doing this for our kids,” referring to the four
sons, and daughter in the Seelhammer family, and the two sons and
daughter in the Scotch family.
When Tim, originally from North Dallas, and Kevin, originally
from Minnesota, met they discovered that each had over 20 years of
experience in the construction industry. The Scotch and Seelhammer
family business grew to include, Stephanie Scotch, wife of Tim, and
Clara Seelhammer, wife of Kevin. The two families both love living
and working in the New Braunfels area. “We have similar motivation,
and similar skills that combined make us a very successful team,” said
Kevin. The many strengths and skills offered by the individuals of 2
S-D create a synergistic team where each member compliments one
another.
Clients, Rusty and M’liss Brockman share their experience with
2 S-D in remodeling several rooms of their home, “Tim, and 2
S-D took so much pride in our home during the major remodel.”
Tim began by listening to the Brockman’s dreams and proposed a
plan to make them happen by gutting the kitchen, adding a push
out to an exterior wall, removing an interior wall, and significantly
raising ceilings. The goal was to bring the outside into the Brockman’s
inside world. “We moved out of our home for three months, and
trusted 2 S-D and their contractors enough to leave the house full of
belongings,” M’liss said. “It’s kind of scary to put that much trust in
somebody, but we can’t say enough how pleased we are with everything
that was done and the conscientiousness of the company.”
M’liss also explained that supporting beams were removed and
reinstalled to meet inspection, when Tim took the opportunity to
offer the Brockmans a perfect opportunity to build a back porch off
of the kitchen. “He knew our goals and dreams, and made them even
more than we imagined. Not only did we bring the outside in with
large windows and raised ceilings, but we created a flow that lead us
back to the outside with the porch addition,” M’liss said.
The Brockmans agree, “It’s not a matter of if, but when we will do
the master bath remodel with 2 S-D.”
The list of satisfied clients and references goes very far beyond the
Brockmans, and has earned the company’s reputation as a premier
contractor of residential and commercial properties. Whether
building new homes and offices, remodeling, or adding extensions to
existing structures, 2 S-D oversees every detail to deliver completely
custom finished products that exceed their clients’ expectations.
They offer design and build services of Hill Country Elegant, Rustic
Country, Tuscan and many more home styles, while specializing in
custom kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor living spaces.
“We like to have big jobs that we can execute with creativity,” Tim
shares. “We think out of the box and find ways to make our customers
dreams possible.”
From building room additions that look and feel like the original
home, restoring historic buildings to bringing them up to code
while preserving the original character, and integrating recycled and
reclaimed materials, 2 S-D offers everything it takes to provide the
unique construction needs of their clients.
They also specialize in interior upgrades and full exterior rehabs to
multifamily and condominium buildings across the southern United
States. Fire restoration and rebuilding, increasing energy efficiency,
custom iron works, stone works, and unique paint finishes are also
provided by the company.
“We offer new styles and creative techniques that are both cost
effective and decoratively stunning,” Stephanie said when referring
the many custom countertop and painting methods they utilize.
The Seelhammer and Scotch families provide hard work and
dedicated service to each and every client, much like the dedication
they provide to their families and as the company’s name implies, to
their sons and daughters.
Contact: 2 S-D Inc., 1393 Wald Road, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Ph: 830-627-2734. Web: www.2sdinc.com
46
47
New Braunfels’ Toddler
Joshua Davis Jr.
IS STILL MISSING
By Susan Marx
ANONYMOUS TIPS
Can be made to Comal
County Crime Stoppers
through their website.
comalcountycrimestoppers.org
or by calling (830) 620-TIPS.
The New Braunfels Police
Department can be reached at
(830) 221-4100.
48
I
t was about 8 p.m. on Feb. 4 when
18 Month old Joshua Davis Jr. disappeared from his home in the 2600
block of Savannah Hills Circle - a rural
area of New Braunfels. It was a high
profile case that garnered national
attention. Here it is almost a year later
and the toddler is still missing. New
Braunfels Chief of Police Tom Wibert
said Joshua Davis’ disappearance is the
biggest case in the department’s history.
“Finding the boy or discovering what
happened to him is still the number one
priority for the New Braunfels Police
Department,” Wibert said. Joshua Jr.
suffers from Asthma and was on medication when he disappeared.
The toddler was living with his
mother Sabrina Benitez and her fiancé,
the boy’s father, Josh Davis and members of their extended family. Sabrina,
who was eight months pregnant with
her third child at the time, was watching “Toy Story 3” in the bedroom while
Josh, a family friend, the boy’s grandfather Jerome and his girlfriend Vicky,
Joshua Jr.’s older brother Desmond and
uncle Johnny were watching football in
the living room.
Sabrina said, “Joshy was going
back and forth between the two
rooms,” when she noticed that he
hadn’t been back in a while. Sabrina
went to ask Josh where the boy was and
Josh said he thought he was with her.
That’s when they started looking. By
this time, Sabrina said, the family
friend had left and they suspected that
maybe he had left the door ajar and
Joshua Jr. got out. They began to search
outside but it was 21 degrees that night,
the coldest night of the year, and
prospects were not good for the boy’s
survival if he had wandered off.
Jerome called 911 at about 9
p.m. Police scoured the area on foot
with search dogs, helicopters and used
remote-controlled drones to map out a
1-2 mile radius of the surrounding area.
New Braunfels Police Captain Michael
Penshorn said the Texas Rangers, Heidi
Search, the FBI and the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children joined in the search as well as
hundreds of volunteers but there was
no sign of him. Officials downgraded
the search to a recovery operation with
cadaver sniffing dogs 36 hours later
because it was unlikely Joshua was still
alive.
Detective Scott Ranken was on
call that night so he became the lead
investigator. Ranken said they were
getting several anonymous tips on the
whereabouts of the child every week
and they have pursued every single one
but so far none of the tips have panned
out. At one time, Penshorn said there
was a combined reward of $20,000 for
information leading to the child.
That reward has dwindled to $2,000
and police still receive a few tips a
month.
Detective Lieutenant Craig
Christopherson, one of the lead investigators in the case, said there were no
indictors that Joshua Jr. was abducted,
nor is it likely the child is lost or
wandered off on his own. He said FBI
profilers reviewed the interviews police
conducted with the family members
who were present in the house at the
time the boy went missing and agreed
that Joshua Jr.’s disappearance is not an
abduction scenario.
Sabrina continues to believe
someone took Joshua and holds out hope
that someday he will be home with her
again. She hosts a Facebook page called
“Let’s FIND Joshua Davis,” to keep the
story alive and to serve as a portal for
people to connect with the family. Meanwhile, Sabrina gave birth to her third
child, Jayden, two weeks after Joshua Jr.’s
disappearance. Sabrina said Child Protective Services required urinalysis before she
delivered the child because police had no
leads on the case and so were looking at
the parents. The urine sample contained
traces of marijuana. As a result, newborn
baby Jayden Davis was placed in custody
of Sabrina’s mother.
“We weren’t allowed to see
Jayden without supervision for the
first couple of months,” Sabrina said.
Then she and the baby’s father were
allowed unsupervised visits while they
attended state required AA meetings
and submitted to further drug testing.
On Dec. 9, Child Protective Services
dropped their case and Sabrina now
has full custody of Jayden. She
celebrated her 24th birthday the
following day but said she was so
depressed about Joshua Jr. she stayed
in bed all day. Sabrina believes no sign
is a good sign because that means
Joshua Jr. can still come home.
The police and the missing
toddler’s parents agree on one thing.
Somebody knows what happened.
Penshorn said the case is still active
and they drop everything they’re
doing every time they get a tip. He
believes it’s just a matter of time
before someone does the right thing
and comes forward.
49
By Susan Marx
STREET BRIDGE
ON
TRACK
FOR REHABILITATION
A
A few months ago a consumer advocate group known
as Transportation for America, released a list of
bridges in Comal and Bexar County that were deemed
“structurally deficient” and due for inspection. One of the
bridges named was New Braufels’ historic San Antonio Street
Bridge, a concrete arch structure built in 1923 which carries
vehicular traffic to and from the square and over the Comal River.
John Kilgore a San Antonio District Engineer for the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDot) said the San Antonio
Street Bridge was due for inspection in September and was
inspected Oct. 4 of this year. It is now on track to be rehabilitated and strengthened to increase its load capacity. That’s the
good news. Unfortunately, even though the bridge was
approved this November for state funding, it is not scheduled
50
for repair until 2017. That doesn’t mean the bridge is unsafe in
the meantime, Kilgore said. Any bridge that is deemed unsafe
has its traffic reduced or it is closed down or replaced and
traffic is rerouted while the work is being done, Kilgore said.
He explained that a “structurally deficient” bridge is one that
has one or more elements that reduces its structural capacity.
When a bridge is inspected it is given a “sufficiency rating.”
This is a score that ranks its structural integrity and load capacity in percentage figures. The Department of Transportation
also takes into consideration the average daily traffic (ADT)
and the aesthetic/historical value to the community.
New Braufels has reason to celebrate. There are thousands of
bridges within the state on the list for state funding and many
of them won’t get it. While the city waits for state funding to
come through, the bridge, which has a load capacity that falls
below the legal limit (80,000 lbs) has been load posted to ensure
its safety and to keep traffic moving. Kilgore said there is no
reason for residents to be afraid of travelling on the bridge as
long as the load limits are enforced.
The repair of roads and bridges falls under the Federal Highway Administration but it is up to states to inspect and perform
maintenance through their departments of transportation.
TxDot is made up of 25 districts and each district inspects the
roadways and bridges within the counties they serve on a 24
month cycle. Any bridge that is deemed “structurally deficient,”
Kilgore said, is inspected on an annual basis as part of the
off-system maintenance performed on state roads.
The San Antonio Street Bridge will remain a part of New
Braunfels’ character and charm, Kilgore said. At the present
time, TxDot is in the process of contacting the city to plan for
the state approved improvements. When work finally
commences on the bridge, Kilgore said they will increase its
load capacity so it can safely carry fire trucks and school buses
but it will probably remain below the legal limit for truck traffic.
51
52
F
or some kids, school is a lifeline. A safe haven where their
talents are nurtured and long-term success is the objective
despite various odds being stacked against them. For these
kids, school involves so much more than a compulsory education
that occupies time between home and extra-curriculars. With the
help of employees and volunteers with Communities in Schools, it
includes meaningful relationships that help them achieve success in
life.
The Communities in Schools program, which is found in
schools across the nation, is operated in the New Braunfels area by
Communities in Schools of South Central Texas, a branch that serves
multiple schools in the Comal and Guadalupe counties. As Executive
Director of the South Central Texas division Christine Douglas
described, the main goal is for students to be successful academically
as well as preparing them for a successful adulthood.
And we’re talking about more than a little tutoring to pass
geometry. Communities in Schools (CIS) will make every attempt
to resolve any issue standing in the way of a child’s success – be it
emotional, physical, financial, or other – including, but certainly not
limited to, academic tutoring. “We’ll work to break down whatever
barriers there are,” said Douglas.
By working closely with each school’s leadership to implement
an efficient plan of action and bringing in resources from the
surrounding community, the program can do everything from
providing counseling for a child dealing with domestic violence
to obtaining funding for a root canal to filling an empty belly at
lunchtime. Because any obstacle that keeps a kid from succeeding at
school is an obstacle worth taking the time to resolve. And helping a
child thrive in learning is opening up their world to bigger dreams.
Last year, CIS of South Central Texas directly impacted the lives
of at least 16,000 students in the area. This year, unfortunately, that
number is predicted to decrease due to state budget cuts. With roughly
a third of the funding for CIS coming from the State Legislature and
another third stemming from contracts with independent school
districts, the program’s range is bound to suffer, making grants,
donations, and local support even more crucial.
“It’s an investment in the community,” said Christine Douglas,
describing the cyclical impact of CIS working to keep students from
becoming dropouts, maybe even criminals and area gang members,
by encouraging worthwhile ambitions and preparing kids to become
valuable members of the community. With efforts like their program
Project Success, CIS gets juniors and seniors in high school thinking
about practical, achievable steps they can take to get them through
college and beyond.
In addition to making donations, attending or sponsoring
fundraisers, and volunteering for the mentor program, community
members can get involved by donating items or offering time at the
Communities in Schools thrift store Community Resale, which
turns every penny back to supporting CIS of South Central Texas in
an effort to reduce reliance on state funding.
Community Resale is located at 1024B W. San Antonio Street in
New Braunfels. For more information on the positive impact that
Communities in Schools has had, how to become involved, or to
make an online donation, see www.cissouthcentraltexas.org.
53
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59
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Online at: NewBraunfelsMagazine.com

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