Thorndale

The Thorndale ISD Board of Trustees will not raise the tax rate for the coming year.

A public hearing for the 2017-18 tax rate was held during the board’s Aug. 7 meeting. TISD Business Manager Rebecca Peel stated that the recommendation was to leave the tax rate at $1.17 for maintenance and operation with no tax levied for Interest and Sinking (bond service). The board then voted 6-0 to propose that tax rate to be voted on later in August.

During the budget workshop TISD Superintendent Adam Ivy and Peel explained that the state formula for 2017-18 would result in around $150,000 less in revenue than in 2016-17. They stated that they had worked to make the budget fit into that new revenue figure and that they were confident that a balanced budget could be reached. They stated that the general supply budgets line items were generally left the same as 2016-17.

The Thorndale Police Department held its Summer Santa program earlier this month.

“With all the organizations and focus, often times our senior citizens are overlooked,” Thorndale Police Chief Martin Jackson said. “Our seniors and shut-ins need our attention as well. During the summer many seniors are alone, some have no family, and others are just simply ignored. Thorndale has many seniors throughout the community and we wanted them to be honored and supported during the hot summer months. We wanted to organize a special program to focus on our seniors and make their summer more bearable. So, the Thorndale Police Department developed Summer Santa program.”

A Thorndale man is dead following an argument on July 4.

Thorndale Police Department Chief Martin Jackson said that Joel Simank of Thorndale died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained in an altercation.

On Tuesday, July 4, at approximately 11:05 p.m., Thorndale police were dispatched to the 200 block of South Second Street for a shooting. The caller reported a gunshot victim. Responding officers were assisted by Thorndale Fire, EMS and AMR ambulance.

Upon arrival, a 41-year-old male was located in the front yard of the residence with gunshot wounds. The victim was identified as Simank. He was treated by first responders and AMR paramedics. He was transported to Seton Williamson County hospital in Round Rock by AMR ambulance.

Winners from the 27th annual Thorndale Volunteer Fire Department BBQ Cook-Off.

Chicken: First, Czexicans, Terry Skrhak – Taylor; Second, Patin Construction #1, Brian Fisher – Thorndale; Third, Lone Star Lovers, Jeff Barron – Thorndale; Fourth, Big Blue BBQ, Jake Praiger – Belton; Fifth, Here For The Beer, Ross Towery – Cameron; Sixth, Hazzards of Smoking, Ryan Davenport – Thorndale; Seventh, Bad Boyz BBQ, Sean Leschber – Taylor; Eighth, Just A Krusen #1, Floyd Kruse – Rockdale; Ninth, Smoke That, Thomas Wilson – Taylor; 10th, Patin Construction #2, Brian Fisher – Thorndale.

Four candidates will compete for Miss Thorndale at the Thorndale Revue on June 22. Contestants are, from left, freshmen Madilyn Scruggs, daughter of Joy and Stewart Scruggs; senior Kylie Buchanan, daughter of Randa and Jerome Buchanan; junior Ashton Kiesling, daughter of Kevin and Carrie Kiesling; and senior Miranda Smith, daughter of Cindy Smith. The Revue is set for 7 p.m. in the Thorndale ISD cafeteria. The theme for the night is Fiesta!

The Thorndale Volunteer Fire Department’s 27th Annual BBQ Cook-off is set for June 23-25.

The Fireman’s Softball Tournament will be held at City Park Field June 23-25.

There will be a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 23. A dance will be held in the City Park Pavilion from 8 p.m. to midnight with Texas Unlimited Band opening for Texas Country singer Kevin Fowler. Admission is $20 for all ages, under 5 is free. Gates to the park will close at 6:30 p.m. and tickets/wristbands will be required for entrance to remain in the park.

By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager

Over 60 Thorndale citizens gathered at the Thorndale Senior Center on June 6 for a public meeting concerning Thorndale’s water issues.

“In 2005 we were cited by TCEQ for having insufficient minimum water capacity requirements,” Thorndale City Manager Keith Keisling said. “At the time we were only one or two points deficient. Now we are past that.”

Keisling said the city has never had a problem having enough water to meet its demands. But, the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality requires you to have .6 gallons per minute per connection of water. 

On June 6 around 10:20 a.m. a live bat was found in the yard of a residence. There was no known contact with the bat and it is unknown how long the bat was located near this area. The Thorndale Police Department impounded the animal and submitted it for testing at the Department of State Health Services where it tested positive for rabies.

If you had contact with this bat, call the Thorndale Police Department immediately. Rabies is a fatal disease.

Persons who had contact with this bat should see their physicians as soon as possible to discuss the need for post-exposure rabies vaccinations. Additionally, they should contact the Thorndale Police at (254) 697-7033 and the Texas Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Program (254) 778-6744, to report their potential exposures.

The City of Thorndale will hold a public meeting will a presentation from staff on water projects for city water services on June 6 at 6 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the Thorndale Senior Citizen’s Hall, 200 South Cornelius Street, in Thorndale.

The public meeting will allow citizens to ask questions and give comments to council members.

The city has been working on the water issues with Jones and Carter.

Council approved a proposal from Jones and Carter on May 10 to provide engineering services related to the drilling and evaluation of results of a test well for the city’s water supply project and received an update from Grant Lishka with Jones and Carter on the status of the project.

By Marie Bakken

Champion Sports

The No. 8 Thorndale Bulldogs came from behind in their final at bat of game two on Saturday and then ran away from No. 1 Refugio (26-3) in game three to advance to the regional finals of the Class 2A state baseball playoffs.  The series was held at Veterans Memorial Park Strickland Field in Weimar. 

The Bulldogs (25-4), winners of District 27-2A, will now face No. 3 Dallardsville Big Sandy (31-2) for a chance at the UIL state tournament.  Big Sandy, winner of 25-2A, defeated Center in two games to none in their quarterfinals series last week.

The region final best-of-three series will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Madisonville High School.  Game two is set for 4 p.m. Saturday, if necessary, game three will follow.