by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

04-09-25

Top Picture (Left to Right): Councilmember Con Mims, Mayor Hector Luevano and Councilmember Ernest Santos

After meeting in a closed-door executive session, the Uvalde City Council reconvened into open council where Mayor Hector R. Luevano moved to nominate Gustavo Sorola, a retired Texas Parks and Wildlife Ranger for his pick for the City’s Municipal Court Judge. But when the votes were cast, the mayor’s nomination failed to pass with three votes in favor and the against, effectively thwarting the nomination bid.

The three votes in favor of Sorola were cast by Mayor Hector Luevano and Councilmembers Eloisa Medina and Ernest Santos. The three nay votes were cast by Councilmembers Con Mims, Don “Mac” McLaughlin Jr. and Ernest “Chip” King.

 This nomination defeat follows Luevanos nomination of Kyle McKeon which failed for lack of a second at the February 25th, 2025 Uvalde City Council meeting.

 Several citizens have expressed interest to the City Council for the position of Uvalde Municipal Court Judge including: 

  Rene Nolasco, J. Anson Bills, Justin Wolbert, Mona Southward and Mario Valdez. 

 The appointed interim City of Uvalde Municipal Court Judge Cynthia Casburn will continue to preside until the council approves a nomination for the position.

03-27-25

by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

Top  Picture: BARC Board President Kelley Kimble presents a proposal to the City for operations funding and use of the new facility

   After a lengthy discussion, the City of Uvalde City Council approved an agreement with the Briscoe Animal Resource Center, BARC, providing annual funding for utilities and per diem city animals brought in. The agreement will be renewable every five years for four years with an exit clause in the agreement.

   Opposing concern included the needs for providing infrastructure in other areas of the town, such as sidewalks and infrastructure. However, the city was faced with the prospect of improving its current city pound facilities, which could have cost upwards of several hundreds of thousands of dollars.

 In 2023, the Uvalde City Council agreed to provide the nonprofit organization BARC with $500,000 towards construction of the $3 million facility.

  Citizen Simon Ortiz and Uvalde City Councilman Ernest Santos stated that by the city taking that step they were in effect committing the city to the partnership with BARC including participation in expenses.

  Uvalde City Mayor Hector Luevano stated that he believes there were many in town that had no idea the city had previously agreed to provide BARC with $500,000 despite others claiming that it had been published in the local print newspaper.

 

 

 

 

 

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

02-22-25

Agenda for the Uvalde County Commissioners Court meeting on Monday, February 24th at 10AM@ Uvalde County Courthouse

Link to the video livestream 

Agenda Packet for Monday, February 24, 2025 at 10 AM

Draft Agenda for the City of Uvalde City Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 25th at 6 PM @ City Hall

Link to the video livestream

Media Draft Agenda 02-25-2025

Uvalde CISD Board Workshop Meeting on Tuesday, May 25th at 6 PM at the Benson Board Room at 601 Dean Street

Link to the Video Livestream

Notice of board workshop 2.25.2025

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top Photo: Bill Sweeney and Debra Crawford with Lyte Fiber presents PowerPoint presentation to Uvalde City Council.

02-14-25

Debra Crawford and Bill Sweeney of Lyte Fiber spoke to the Uvalde City Council on Tuesday, February 11th the high-speed internet firm would be coming to Uvalde to offer area customers a tiered flat rate internet service option to residents and businesses.

Crawford said the company primarily serves rural, underserved communities.

Crawford spoke to the City Council first stating the company will start the permitting process soon with the goal of offering services to 5500 homes in Uvalde.

She also said that the company would be surveying then laying fiber and be utilizing drones to map the areas where the work will be done. It was also said the company has acquired all the needed licenses to fly the drones and will abide by Federal Aviation Administration requirements including filing a flight plan with the FAA.

The company hopes to start providing service in the 3rd quarter of 2025.

It was also stated Lyte Fiber just launched an ISP (Internet Services Provider) in Baytown.

The company will install services in areas of 200-400 homes working toward providing services to the entire Uvalde area. Areas that will be equipped first will be advertised by signs posted at intersections in those areas and the company homes to further advertise its availability with door hangers.

“We want to be a good communicator with the city and the community as a whole,” Crawford said.

Uvalde City Councilman Chip King said, “So you are an internet service provider

According to information found on the Lyte Fiber’s website, it states:

“Fiber internet is a high-speed broadband technology that uses pulses of light to transmit data over ultra-thin strands of glass, also known as fiber-optic cables. Amazingly, fiber strands are as thin as human hairs! Fiber technology ensures a faster and more reliable internet connection compared to traditional services like cable, DSL, satellite or fixed wireless. This enables seamless video streaming, lag-free gaming, and quick downloads—all without interruptions!”

Media Draft Agenda 02-11-2025

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

February 6th, 2024

In a news story published by the Uvalde Hesperian on February 5th: Yeackle proposes new management plan for the Uvalde Main Street Program

In the article, it stated:

“Uvalde Main Street Manager Gloria Resma was not in attendance at the meeting. The Uvalde Hesperian sent an email on Thursday, January 30th to City of Uvalde Mayor Hector R. Luevano and City Manager Vince DiPiazza with the following question:

‘Wanted to ask what if the city of Uvalde has a policy of not allowing department heads or employees to address the City Council at City Council meetings especially when the subject is on their job or position?’

The Hesperian is still waiting on a response.”

Earlier today, February 6th, 2025,  Uvalde City Manager Vince DiPiazza sent the following statement to the Uvalde Hesperian:

“Ms. Resma was not forbidden to speak on her own behalf at the 28 January city council meeting. She, Susan Anderson, and I met prior to that meeting to discuss the staff’s approach to the chamber of commerce proposal. The consensus was that we wanted the council to hear first from Main Street board members on the value, or perhaps lack thereof, of the Main Street program. The program is not about this or that city employee; it’s about boosting the businesses in the central business district, those businesses being, collectively, a significant economic engine in our community.

Ms. Resma does not have to fight for her job. We continue to need her to manage the civic center, which is now doing more business than it did when we contracted the management to another entity. If the council sees fit to contract the management of the Main Street program to the chamber of commerce, then the staff will support that decision. I already have in mind other tasks within city operations for which I would like to use Ms. Resma’s talents, if, as we continue to grow business at the civic center, she still has time to devote her efforts to those other tasks.”

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

01/19/25

With a Winter Storm Advisory issued by the National Weather Service for tonight through midday Tuesday and overnight temperatures into Monday expected to dip to 21 degrees in Uvalde. The Bread of Life Christian Fellowship located at 700 North High Street has opened its doors Sunday afternoon offering those without heating a warm place to sleep and food.

Pastor Gilbert Limones of Casa El Shaddai and his church’s congregation joined in the effort to assist the Bread of Life Church with its efforts to serve those in need in Uvalde.

Earlier this morning, Limones posted a Facebook Live Video asking the community for assistance with food donations, blankets, and other items as well as monetary donations to assist with the effort. Volunteers are also needed.

Limones said he has been in contact with Uvalde Mayor Hector R. Luevano and the churches  are working with the City. Limones said if the Bread of Life facilities become full, the City of Uvalde has agreed to open the Civic Center to provide an additional warming location during these frigid days and nights.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top Picture: Glen Fortner speaks at Tuesday’s night’s Uvalde City Council meeting. Image is a still image taken from the City of Uvalde live stream video.

12-11-24

During the public comments portion of the Tuesday, December 10th meeting of the Uvalde City Council, Emma Trimble and Glenn Fortner spoke against a program at the Opera House, Ghosts of Texas with the Klinge Brothers.  According to Fortner, he indicated the program was rescheduled for October although the program  is still scheduled for Saturday, January 11th, 2024, according to the Uvalde Grand Opera House website.

“Today, I am going to share something in the natural, secular realm as well as in the spiritual and supernatural realm. I want to share that my intention is not to bring a word of condemnation or rebuke, but of encouragement and love from the desire of God to bring blessing upon our community and to inform you of some of the aspects according to the Bible that will hinder God’s desire to be fully experienced by us as a community. Specifically speaking of the now rescheduled program of directors that are planning to come to Uvalde that have rented the Opera House to film segments of their program on the alleged ghosts that dwell at the Opera House and they are going to air that in or on a program called Ghost Stories of Texas.

She went on to talk about a separate VIP event after the show bringing a psychic medium to perform her psychic abilities that VIP members can participate in.

“There are numerous Biblical scriptures that warn against communicating with the dead, also called a seance, which is a meeting at which people attempt to make contact with the dead especially through the agency of a medium. All throughout scripture we see the practice of such activities not only remove God’s hand of blessing over his people, but Scripture actually tells us that it can actually invoke a curse,” Trimble said.

According to information on the program on the Uvalde Grand Opera House Website it states: “They also will be bringing their close friend and psychic/medium Dana Stricker for a special VIP event after the show to learn about her psychic abilities during an actual investigation of the haunted opera house that you can participate in! ”

“Especially across the street, from where the crosses of our beautiful children are still.” Trimble said.

Pastor and business owner Glenn Fortner also spoke on the matter. He said, “I would like to make mention that America was originally founded on the principles of God’s Word and faith in the Lord. Historical evidence proves that free societies that did not honor God had His favor removed and ultimately, they failed. In contrast those that honored the Lord prospered.”

“Not standing up against the event and looking the other way would be as harmful as supporting it wholeheartedly,” he said.

Fortner continued urging the Council to be proactive by implementing policies that restrict events that glory death, darkness and demonology.”