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The Mountaineers will face the Rising Star Wildcats in Santa Anna Friday night at 7:30 PM for the first Division 1 District 13 game. The two and four Wildcats are ranked at number 50 while the five and one Mountaineers hang around 18th.
Who and how the Wildcats have played:
Beat Lueders-Avoca 54-6
Lost to Strawn 48-0
Lost to Gordon 30-20
Beat Lometa 28-26
Lost to Rochelle 52-45
Lost to Brookesmith 60-14 (Santa Anna beat Brookesmith 78-67)
The Mountaineers are picked to win by 45 by SixManFootball.com so it might not be much of a game but with only four games left in the regular season this is one of two remaining home games so get your black and gold on and we will see at the game!
ATTORNEY GENERAL ABBOTT OBTAINS INJUNCTION AGAINST MOBILE HOME SCAMMERS EVADING JUSTICE
Huizar brothers, David Barroso leave trail of exploited low-income home buyers
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| SAN ANTONIO - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has obtained a stringent temporary injunction and asset freeze against two men who have been evading justice since March, yet continue to victimize prospective consumers interested in owning manufactured homes. Trial is set for Feb. 12. Andrew and Edward Huizar operated A&E Investments using the license for the business known as Sweet Homes, formerly owned by David Barroso, a third defendant who remains at large in Nevada after surrendering his retail license to sell homes in Texas. Barroso entered into a management contract with the Huizars. After dissolving their partnership in September 2004, all three have continued to operate separately – and unlawfully – under various names such as Harper Enterprises and Dilley Mobile Homes, leaving still more victims. “Our San Antonio regional office, working with investigators from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, has managed to hit these bad actors with a court-ordered injunction,” said Attorney General Abbott. “This will deprive them of any further ability to take hard-earned money from innocent consumers dreaming of home ownership, leaving them instead with title problems and unpaid taxes. Bit by bit, we are eradicating these black market operators in Texas and giving scammed homeowners a measure of justice.” The Attorney General’s San Antonio Consumer Protection office sued
several defendants last March, these three men among them. The suit targeted unlicensed retailers the Huizars, Barroso, and Mario Montalbo and Anna Saenz. The latter two operated Diamond Homes in San Antonio. This suit, naming the Huizars and Barroso, alleges these parties provided consumers with faulty titles and left behind many consumers with debts for unpaid taxes and other liens, which, by law, should have been paid by the Huizars and Barroso. Consumers later learned their titles were defective when they discovered these outstanding liens and taxes. At least one defendant, Edward Huizar, has continued to exploit consumers under false pretenses. Andrew Huizar has still not paid off all victims he scammed, as promised, and Barroso allegedly fled with money belonging to his financier, leaving yet another trail of victims. Barroso agreed to allow the Huizars to manage his licensed manufactured home business known as Sweet Homes in San Antonio. This gave the Huizars an
unlawful air of legitimacy, and they soon began selling homes from this location under their own unlicensed business name of A&E Investments. The Huizars also began pocketing many of the illicit sales proceeds, allegedly without paying Barroso an agreed-upon share of net profits, according to Barroso’s previous statements. The Huizars, meanwhile, stated that Barroso had reneged on his original agreement with them and began demanding a much larger share of net profits, even though the brothers absorbed many losses they believe should have been absorbed by Sweet Homes. The ensuing dispute caused their business arrangement to crumble, but left many would-be homeowners adrift with no title to homes they had purchased, with missing or defective appliances, with needed repairs left undone and with thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes or dealer proceed liens that were not disclosed by the Huizars. These unlicensed retailers sold many homes using a “bill of sale” instead of a
proper title known as a “Statement of Ownership and Location,” which must be filled out completely and registered with the Manufactured Home Division of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. This document serves as the official Texas record of home ownership. Today’s action freezes the defendants’ bank accounts with the intent that there will be sufficient funds for the defendants to refund all monies due to consumers, while shutting down their business practices to prevent further harm to consumers. The defendants must reveal all businesses currently involved with them in pending sales transactions, including the names of mortgage or finance companies, as well as serial numbers of the associated manufactured homes. The Attorney General also seeks a court order to authorize the Manufactured Home Division to issue clear titles to all consumers who have been unable to obtain titles because of the defendants’ deceptive practices. The Attorney General
also requests civil penalties of $20,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and attorneys’ fees. Consumers who believe they have been misled by such businesses may file a complaint with the Attorney General online at www.oag.state.tx.us or call toll-free at (800) 252-8011. |
Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Festive Foods Can Fit in
Diabetic Menu Plans
by Mary Kinney Bielamowicz, PhD, MS, RD, LD, CFCS
Submitted by Debbie Hailey, DEA-FCS
Special occasions — whether holidays, family celebrations or spur-of-the-minute get-togethers — are made more special by the foods served. Don't let diabetes keep you from enjoying these festive occasions. Healthful eating can be part of party menus too. To enjoy special-occasion meals while keeping your blood glucose levels in check, keep these practical tips in mind:
• Use the Plate Method of portion control. When you're filling your plate at a buffet line, use this method to help you balance the kinds and amounts of the foods you eat.
To use the Plate Method, first mentally divide a 9-inch plate into two halves. On one half of the plate, place two or more servings of nonstarchy vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, celery, okra, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes and zucchini.
Then divide the other half of the plate into two quarters. In one quarter of the plate, place a serving of starchy vegetables — such as potatoes, corn or peas, or bread, pasta or rice. In the other space, add a 3-ounce serving of protein, such as meat, chicken or fish.
This method — using a 9-inch plate, nothing larger — not only helps you estimate the right amount of food to eat, but it also allows for a variety of healthful foods.
• Keep serving sizes in mind. For non-starchy vegetables, one serving is 1/2 cup of cooked vegetables or 1 cup of raw vegetables. For starchy vegetables, the serving sizes of non-starchy vegetables do not apply for people with diabetes. One serving of a baked potato is a small one, no more than 3 ounces. One slice of whole-wheat bread or 1/3 cup of rice or pasta also counts as one serving.
For proteins, 3 ounces — about the same size as a deck of cards — is a serving of lean meat, poultry or fish. Correct serving sizes is an easy way to keep count of meal exchanges or carbohydrate servings.
Some proteins can be high in fat. Choose low- or no-fat cheeses, and egg whites or egg substitutes.
• Include a serving of fruit. In addition to the foods on the plate, you could eat 1 cup of melon or a small piece of fruit. Also add a serving of a dairy product — maybe 8 ounces of low-fat milk or 6 ounces of low-fat yogurt.
• Plan before you party. Before attending a festive occasion where food is sure to be served, think about your meal plan. No doubt about it, the foods traditionally served at special occasions can be tempting. But a little planning can help you overcome that temptation:
• Eat lower-calorie foods before attending the event to leave room for something a little special, but don't let sweets take the place of nourishing choices.
• Exercise regularly to help maintain your blood sugar levels. Don't let holidays get between you and your exercise plan.
• Keep in mind the correct portion sizes.
• Avoid foods that are high in fat, sugar, salt and calories and low in nutritional value.
• Modify recipes to make them more healthful; cut the amounts of sugar, salt and fats.
• When attending a special event, stand across the room from where the food is spread.
• Take small portions and eat slowly. Small portions allow for seconds, but remember to keep the total portion size in normal limits.
If you eat too much, forgive yourself, monitor your blood sugar level carefully and try to determine what caused the overindulgence so you can avoid it next time.
For more information on cooking with diabetes, call Texas Cooperative Extension, Debbie Hailey, at 325-625-4519.
FALLS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR INDICTED ON CHARGES OF FALSIFYING TAX RECORDS
Kate Vande Veegaete charged with three state jail felonies for illegally changing property tax appraisal values
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| MARLIN - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Criminal Law Enforcement prosecutors presented evidence to a grand jury on Wednesday, resulting in a three-count state jail felony indictment against Falls County Tax-Assessor Collector Kate Vande Veegaete. The indictment alleges she defrauded Falls County, the city of Marlin, and the Marlin Independent School District by altering government documents and failing to collect nearly $10,000 in delinquent property taxes. Vande Veegaete, 57, was indicted on one count of misapplication of fiduciary property and two counts of tampering with a governmental record. A surety bond was set at $15,000. “Public trust in our elected and appointed officials forms the foundations of government and democracy, and that trust includes accurate appraisals of property and improvements,” said Attorney General Abbott. “We will continue to pursue this investigation to obtain a full accounting of the public’s money. I
appreciate the continued cooperation of Falls County District Attorney Jody Gilliam and County Judge Tom Sehon in helping us ensure that justice is served.” According to the indictment, Vande Veegaete illegally altered the appraisal values of property owned by Eva Joyce Burks, the mother of Falls County Deputy Chief Appraiser Candace Grams, in an attempt to quash a tax judgment placed against Burks’ property due to unpaid taxes from 1993 through 2001. The Attorney General alleges that in late July 2004, Vande Veegaete reduced and eliminated the value of improvements on Burks’ property and lowered the appraised value of the land for tax years 1993 through 2004, effectively reducing the balance on the outstanding tax judgment and cheating the public of proper tax proceeds. The indictment also alleges that Vande Veegaete failed to cash a check issued by the lien holder on Burks’ property in the amount of $9,538.52 for the full sum of the delinquent taxes, penalties,
interest and other costs owed. To explain why the check was being returned uncashed and to hide her tampering with Burks’ tax records, prosecutors contend that Vande Veegaete created a fraudulent installment agreement and sent the false document to the lien holder to make it appear that Burks had entered into a payment plan with the Falls County Tax Office. Today’s indictment is the second handed down in an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the Falls County Appraisal District. In August, District Attorney Jody Gilliam obtained an indictment against Grams for multiple charges of theft and other offenses after an investigation that also uncovered the possible involvement of Veegaete. The Texas Attorney General’s office intervened in the investigation and prosecution at the request of Gilliam and County Judge Tom Sehon. Investigators served a search warrant on Vande Veegaete’s office on Sept. 29. A state jail felony conviction can result in
confinement of six months to two years and may include up to a $10,000 fine. |
Rain
Tuesday started out with a nice rain. Tex Wright reports 1.10 inches of rain and I had 8 tenths in my Coleman County Telephone Coop Gauge.. I think it has two holes in it and one is in the bottom. My Santa Anna National Bank gauge had 1.3 inches in it.. some of which may have come from the water sprinkler Monday night on my dying tomato and pepper plants !
Cut the Salt, Not the Flavor
Submitted By Debbie Hailey, CEA-FCS
from Cooking Well with Diabetes Curriculum
by Mary Kinney Bielamowicz, PhD, MS, RD, LD, CFCS
If you have diabetes, it's important that you reduce your salt intake and increase the amount of fiber in your diet. With a little planning, you can accomplish both while still keeping your foods full of flavor.
Although salt adds flavor to foods, it also is linked to high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are more likely that others to have a stroke, heart disease and kidney disease, so cutting back on salt is important for staying healthy.
Sodium (table salt is sodium chloride) is measured by milligrams; people with mild high blood pressure should consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of salt per day. (One teaspoon of salt has about 2,300 milligrams of sodium.)
Many processed foods are high in sodium: processed meats such as bacon, sandwich meats and hot dogs; canned fish; some canned vegetables, soups and vegetable juices; boxed and/or frozen dinners; snacks such as chips and crackers; and sauces and condiments including pickles, olives and some sauces.
At the grocery store, be sure to read the nutrition labels to check for the sodium content of foods. Look for foods with no more than 400 milligrams per single serving. Entrees should contain no more than 800 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Although salt is our nation's favorite seasoning, limiting its place in the daily diet can be "tastefully" done. Try these suggestions:
* With your dietitian or medical care provider, consider using salt substitutes instead of table salt.
* Cut by half the amount of salt called for in recipes. Or gradually reduce the amount of salt used in recipes to become accustomed to a less-salty taste in your favorite dishes. Exception: Do not reduce the amount of salt in recipes for yeast breads. The recipes don't work right when the
amount of salt is reduced.
* Do not add salt to the water when you are cooking pasta or rice.
* Try the reduced- or no-sodium versions of prepared foods.
* Use the no-salt version of your favorite seasonings — for example, garlic powder or fresh garlic instead of garlic salt. Herbs and spices and liven up the tastes of many dishes. Experiment with flavors to see which ones your family likes best. When using herbs or spices, remember:
* Powdered herbs are stronger in flavor than crumbled herbs; dried herbs have a stronger flavor
than fresh.
* When using milder herbs — such as oregano, basil or cinnamon — use one teaspoon for six
servings. If the flavor is too weak, increase the amount.
* When using stronger herbs — such as rosemary, cloves, mustard and allspice — start with one-quarter teaspoon for six servings.
If you are interested in learning more about Cooking for a person living with Diabetes, join us at our last two classes of Cooking Well with Diabetes, at the Senior Center at 5:30 Tuesday, October 10, and October 17. There is a minimal fee for participation, to pay for the food that is prepared for the event. For more information, call County Extension Agent, Debbie Hailey at the Extension Office at 325-625-4519.
Cooking Well with Diabetes Class Tuesday Evening
by Debbie Hailey, Count Extension Agent
The third class of Cooking Well with Diabetes will be Tuesday
Evening, Oct 10, at the Senior Center in Coleman, at 5:30. Come learn
about Double Pleasure Side Dishes, as we explore exciting ways to cook
delicious food for people living with diabetes. The final class will be
Tuesday, October 17.
There will be a minimal registration fee, to pay for food prepared
for the class members. Come join us and learn new ways to eat well with
diabetes.
No News
I am afraid I don't have much in the way of news for your Monday. I didn't get to go to the game Saturday but it looks like the Mountaineers won by a score of 58-12 over Duncanville Christway according to SixManFootball.com.
The Dallas Cowgirls fell to the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday no thanks to former Eagle now Cowgirl, Terrell Owens, who had a measley 3 catches for 45 yards. The Girls had a chance to tie it up at the end but Bledsoed it. I didn't watch the whole game but I caught the last thirty minutes or so. I am glad I didn't waste any more time than that.
I also caught Abilene Reporter News' photojournalist, Victor Cristales's Saturday full-page article entitled "It's Saturday Night Life", featuring Santa Anna. The article was the first in a series of articles about what people do on Saturday nights in West Texas small towns.
It is available online at Abilene Reporter News site or the full story here in PDF.
Victor had told me about taking the photo of the Cupps' roofing their house. I thought it was kind of ironic that I had tried to hurry up and finish mine before Homecoming and Joey was working on his. Joey used to work for me and Cindy at the Exxon station when he was in high school. He has a nice shiney new metal roof now on the old Wenzel place.
4-H Shooting Sports - Pistol Practice
Monday, October 9th, Bill Franklin Center
Steve Hinds, Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Pistol Leader, has announced
that practices will begin next week on Monday, October 9th at 6:00 p.m.
All 4-Hers as well as parents are welcome to attend. 4-Hers involved
in this program will receive training in SAFETY FIRST, along with skills
and knowledge for this particular discipline. If you are interested in
the 4-H Shooting Sports Pistol program, please come to this
meeting/practice on Monday, October 9, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at the Bill
Franklin Center (Coleman Rodeo Grounds).
For more information you may contact Steve Hinds at 325-636-7144 or the
County Extension Office at 325-625-4519.
Down at the Pumpkin Patch to benefit Ethan Mendoza
Submitted by Stephanie Dane
The First Baptist Church Santa Anna Girls in Action (GA's) group will be hosting a community wide fall festival entitled "Down at the Pumpkin Patch" on Saturday, October 28, 2006 from 5pm-8pm in the First Baptist Church CLC/gym. All proceeds of the festival will be to benefit Ethan Mendoza and his family. Ethan is an 8 year old student of Santa Anna, Texas which contracted encephalitis in early June and has been hospitalized in Cook Children’s Medical Center. He is scheduled to be released in mid October and will require continuing medical attention which can be very expensive.
The tickets for the games are only .25 cents a piece with each game ranging from one to four tickets to play. Nothing will cost more than a dollar to play. We will also have arm bracelets available for $10.00 per person for unlimited play without keeping up with tickets. A concession stand will have great food to feed your whole family.
Activities will include games, a hay ride, FREE door prizes, a live auction and fun for the whole family. The Santa Anna Volunteer Fire Department will be showing off their new quick response truck and answering questions you may have. SAVFD was able to purchase the truck in 2005 with the help of the community and are looking forward to allowing the community an opportunity to see their funds at work first hand.
We still have a few booths open and if any individual or organization would like to help support Ethan and his family, we would love to have your help. The First Baptist Church is proving all prizes and whatever you need to run your booth. Please call Stephanie Dane at 325-280-1729 or Leann Donham at 325-642-0062 with any questions or to volunteer.
There will be a pumpkin carving contest which is FREE to enter. If you would like to enter your jack-o-lantern, you can drop it off at the CLC no later than 6:00pm during the festival. The prizes will be awarded at 7:30pm.
Remember, all proceeds will benefit Ethan Mendoza and his family so we hope to see everyone come out and have some fun while we support a local family! No costumes please.
Ethan Mendoza, age 8 and a student at Santa Anna Elementary is currently hospitalized at Cook Children's Medical Center in Ft. Worth due to a diagnosis of Encephalitis. He has been there since early June and remains there for physical therapy and rehabilitation.
The last report I had on Ethan, he is now up and walking on his own, and doing much better, but still has a way to go. His doctors are planning to release him in mid October to return home to Santa Anna where he will continue to recover from his illness.
Ethan is the son of Sandi Watson of Santa Anna. Send well wishes to Cook Children's Hospital Center, Ethan Mendoza, Rm 6406, 801 7th Ave., Ft. Worth, TX 76104
Please remember Ethan and his family as he recovers.
Santa Anna Yearbook Staff Selling Poinsettias
The Santa Anna Yearbook Staff will be selling poinsettias again this year starting around the middle of October. They will be the same price as last year ($12.50) with foiled covers and a bow. This money is used to help fund our yearbook and purchase photography equipment when needed. Yearbook staff members will be coming around to check and see if you would like to order or you may send an e-mail to becky.martin@netxv to order. They appreciate your support in the activities that they do.
Coleman 4H Club to Sell Poinsettias
The Coleman 4H club will be selling poinsettias from now through October 10th. The cost will be $10.00 per plant. The colors that will be available are red, pink or white. The profits that are made will be used to purchase toys for Coleman’s Citywide Toy Drive. What a beautiful way to decorate for Christmas!
You may purchase poinsettias from any Coleman 4Her or call the Coleman County Agriculture Extension office at 625-4519. The plants will be delivered to the Bill Franklin Center (at the rodeo grounds) on December 2nd. You may pick them up there or make arrangements with the 4Her you bought them from to deliver them. Payment is due when the plants are picked up.
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