Salado Village Voice

Established in 1979

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Thriving communities depend on smart public investment in libraries

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By Ling Hwey Jeng, Ph.D., director of the School of Library and Information Studies at Texas Woman’s University and incoming president of the Texas Library Association

Libraries are changing. While traditional activities such as borrowing books or reading still dominate use of libraries, Pew Research Institute studies show the American public today relies on libraries to teach digital skills, provide working spaces and address the disparity among citizens who have or don’t have broadband internet services at home. Libraries also are breaking physical boundaries as they become more embedded in shopping malls, community centers and student unions on college campuses.

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Our views shouldn’t be diminished just because our taxes are frozen

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To the Editor:

I’ve lived in Salado since 1980 and yes, my taxes are frozen.  It is important to recognize that established folks over 65 have paid city, county, and school taxes for many years.  In my case, I have paid taxes locally for almost 30 years.  Just because our taxes are now frozen, and we currently pay less than the generations that follow, doesn’t mean our views, constitutional liberties, and rights to speak/petition should now be diminished.  It is those of us who have been here for awhile who built Salado into what it is today.  Older people have ideas, and dreams for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren, and our community.

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Collared Lizard looks like a mini T-rex when it runs

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Most, if not all, herpetologists can attribute their involvement with reptiles and amphibians with a fascination of dinosaurs when they were young. It was definitely the case with me, and I can remember the summer days of my childhood observing a modern-day dinosaur, the Eastern Collared Lizard, often coined the name “Mountain Boomer” by those who encounter this species frequently.

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How to steal from a school district and not get caught

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By Jon Cassidy

So, you and a couple buddies have gotten control of a school board or a county commission somewhere, you’ve got your guy installed as the chief executive, and you’d like to cash in on your opportunity – send some work to a contractor you know, maybe put a few relatives on the payroll.

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First Baptist prepares shoe boxes of gifts for Samaritan’s Purse

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Members of First Baptist Church of Salado will be joining tens of thousands of U.S. residents who are on a mission to make a lasting impact on children in need. They are looking beyond their own wish lists and packing shoeboxes for boys and girls around the world—for many of the children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.

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Saving the old red schoolhouse

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by Michael Novotny, Salado ISD Superintendent

Earlier this month, the Salado Historical Society dedicated a new Texas State Historic Commission historical marker at the Salado Civic Center.  The marker commemorates the life of Alice Joy Gray Hamblem, who donated the land for a Salado Public School in 1924.

For the following 43 years the “Red Brick Schoolhouse” located at 601 North Main Street was the only school in the district.  The student enrollment gradually increased enough to need another building so in 1967 the district opened Thomas Arnold Elementary School.  Students in grades seven through twelve remained in the Red Brick Schoolhouse for the next twelve years until the district opened Salado High School (which is now Salado Junior High School).

The Red Brick Schoolhouse was vacant starting in 1979 and the building gradually deteriorated to the point of almost being torn down.  However, some community members and Salado High School alumni collected over $500,000 in donations to repair and renovate the building in 1992.  The building was then renamed the Salado Civic Center.

The school district continues to own the Salado Civic Center and our central office is located there.  Several other organizations have rented space in the building over the last 25 years, including the Salado Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center, the Village of Salado, the Salado Public Library, the Salado Historical Society, and the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).  Each of these organizations eventually relocated to another location.

Last month the school district began a seven year lease with Bell County for three of the offices downstairs in the Civic Center.  This space is for the five Bell County employees, including Justice of the Peace Don Engleking and Constable Rolly Correa, who were previously leasing space at Horizon Bank.

The Civic Center also has large and small meeting rooms used by many other groups, including the Salado Lions Club, Salado Community Choir, Hidden Springs Homeowners Association, ESL and GED classes, wedding receptions and family reunions.

In addition to recognizing Alice Joy Gray Hamblem for generously donating the land back in 1924,

I would also like to thank the following people that helped restore the Red Brick Schoolhouse into the Salado Civic Center:

Gary Bartlett

Kenyon Clapp

Robert H. Cottle

Suzi Epps

Jessie Foster

Egon Friedrich

Hulda Horton

Denver Mills

Lloyd Parks

Pasty Sanford

Lois Shepperd

Wilma Williams

Helen Zagona