August 26, 1999
Student enrollment, utility connections show increases in Marfa and Presidio
By STERRY BUTCHER
FAR WEST TEXAS — While some Far West Texas communities retained a fairly steady student population as this school year began, changing enrollment and an increase region-wide in the number of new utility connections may indicate a trend toward both population and business growth in certain parts of the Big Bend Country.
Enrollment figures for both Marfa and Presidio schools showed an increase this year, with Marfa boasting an additional 46 students over the 463 students who began school last year. In an even more dramatic change, Presidio schools demonstrated a 128-student jump over last year’s
1,242 students. In contrast, Fort Davis schools began the year with just a handful fewer students this year than last year, while Alpine schools dropped by about 25 students.
The dip in the number of Fort Davis students is easily explained, said Kim Evans of the Fort Davis ISD. “We had a couple families move out that had several kids each,” she said. “That’s the main reason.”
But the reason behind the change in Alpine’s student population is a bit harder to discern, according to Alpine ISD Superintendent Ernesto Martinez. “We’re not that far off (from last year).” Martinez said. “I’m trying to put my finger on it. We have got a lot of new students coming
in. But students from last year moved on. More students are moving out than come in,” he said.
Martinez hopes that the opening of Sul Ross State University’s fall semester will bring with it a trickle of more children registering for Alpine schools, children of nontraditional, older Sul Ross students.
Blood alcohol threshold lowered to .08 for drunk driving offenses
AUSTIN –– A tougher driving while intoxicated law takes effect on September 1. The DWI threshold will drop from 0.10 to 0.08 blood alcohol content. This change in the law also will
affect the Administrative License Revocation program, which allows for the civil suspension of driver licenses for those who register a .08 or above, as well as those who refuse a breath test.
Some other driving-related legislation that takes effect includes:
• Large trucks (including 18-wheelers), assorted vehicles pulling trailers and school activity buses will now be able to drive the same speed limit as cars on interstate highways numbered by the federal and state government, a maximum speed limit of 70 mph day 65 mph night on
those roadways. The truck speed limit will remain the same (maximum 60 mph day 55 mph night) on farm-to-market (FM) roads and ranch-market (RM) roads.
• School buses without commercial vehicle inspection stickers will now have a maximum speed limit of 50 mph. The prior law allowed school buses to travel 55 mph on interstates. School buses with commercial vehicle inspection stickers will now be allowed to travel 60 mph on interstates and state numbered highways.
• The current seat belt law has been broadened to cover all children in a vehicle, no matter where they are seated. That means that all children under 15 must be properly restrained —
period; the new law also now requires seat belt usage for children under 15 years of age in one-ton pick-ups.