Leader-News awarded honors by press association peers
      The El Campo Leader- News tied for third place in the "Sweepstakes," or best all around category, during a contest sponsored by the South Texas Press Association. Awards were presented Saturday in Corpus Christi during the 81st Annual STPA Convention.
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Heritage Center Work Nears Completion
      Hertage Center Board President Rita Radley, right, reviews progress on the building with Bill and Nelda Muns as work continues in the background. The former cafeteria of the Northside school is being converted into a senior center. The project is one of the last at the Northside Center.
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School board may videotape meetings
"There's no way we can go wrong being transparent." - trustee David Hodges
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com
      El Campo ISD's board may soon videotape meetings and make them available online for all to see. During the April 15 meeting, trustees discussed taping the meetings after board members Cecil Davis and Ralph Novosad broached the subject with Superintendent Mark Pool.
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New bus coming to LISD
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com
      Louise school trustees agreed 7-0 Monday night to purchase a new bus to keep the district's fleet from sliding into decline. Trustees looked at the cost of two different types of buses as well as possibly leasing a bus or financing a purchase.
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ECHS CONSTRUCTION
New Jersey turf scare not applicable to new EC field
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com
      Officials say El Campo ISD has nothing to worry about as it goes forward with plans to install artificial turf in Ricebird Stadium, although press reports this week warned of high levels of lead on two New Jersey fields with artificial turf.
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Teacher, two students headed to nationals
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com
      Larry Kuretsch's hard work in career and technical education has been recognized by his peers. Kuretsch, who's taught career and technical education at El Campo High School for 20 years, has been named Region IV "Advisor of the Year" by SkillsUSA for the nine-state region that includes Texas.
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Fair cook-off long-time tradition
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com
      Vivian Jansky has been getting ready for this weekend's Wharton County Youth Fair Barbecue Cook-off for a mere 32 years. Jansky and some version or another of her family team, The Gamblers, have participated in every year of the event since at least 1981.
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