KNIPPA

Reagan senior Jasmine Montgomery stuns with two individual event wins, and Knippa senior Christian Rattler stuck gold in the 400 meter run, as Class 1A and 6A athletes from the greater San Antonio area competed on Saturday night in the final session of this year’s UIL State Track & Field Championships.

It was a busy, Spring day in South Texas as storms erupted along a cold front. While storms can generally produce hail this time of year, this event was unusual because so many received large hail. Places like Crystal City and Knippa saw damage, after baseball size hail pounded the area. Around San Antonio, Alamo Heights, Leon Springs, and Castle Hills also reported large hail.

Julye KeebleStaff writerThough several residents attended the Monday meeting of the Commissioners Court with the intent to speak about a potential tax abatement for OCI Solar Power in Knippa, no one did after commissioners tabled the adoption of new guidelines for designating tax abatement eligible reinvestment zones. Commissioners, with the help of Uvalde County attorney John Dodson, considered changes to criteria the county uses for granting tax abatements in reinvestment zones, including defining the taxable value of the project, adding a possible $1,000 application fee and allowing up to 60 days to consider an application. After discussing several potential changes, Uvalde County Judge William R. Mitchell asked Dodson if he would recommend adopting the guidelines. I do, judge. I dont have a problem with that, but I think were supposed to have a public hearing regarding the proposed adoption, Dodson said.

Mario G. OrtizMario Guzman Ortiz, 69, of San Antonio died on Jan. 1, 2020, in San Antonio. He was born on Aug. 5, 1950, in Knippa to Merejilda (Guzman) and Francisco Ortiz. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Amelia L. Ortiz; daughter, Michele Ortiz; two sons, Steven Ortiz and Raymond Ortiz and wife, Kristina, all of San Antonio; six brothers, Monico Ortiz and wife, Mary, of Montrose, Colorado, James Ortiz, Alfredo Ortiz, both of Knippa, Fred Ortiz, Alejandro Ortiz and wife, Becky, all of Uvalde, and Pablo Contreras of Amarillo; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Mario I. Ortiz Jr.; and four brothers, Julio Contreras, John Damas Ortiz, Raymond Ortiz and Francisco Ortiz Jr.Visitation took place Jan. 13 from 5-9 p.m. and a rosary was recited at 7 p.m. at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South. The funeral procession departed the funeral home at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 14, 2020, for a funeral mass held at 9 a.m. at El Carmen Catholic Church.

Imagine Knippa resident Bob Reagans surprise when, while digging a pipeline in a cattle pen, the digger suddenly uncovered rock steps presumably leading to a cellar. Bob Reagans parents Cecil and Eula Reagan bought the old Wish property in late 1937 from a land bank as the property had been foreclosed upon. Bob was born there in February of 1938 and has lived on the place continually except for a brief army stint in 1956-57. Jasper Wish, whose name on 1841 New Orleans immigration records appears as Caspar Wasch, arrived in Sabinal Canyon during the fall of 1852 with father-in-law Laban Kelley and his sons Chris and Joe. First settling a few miles north of Utopia, Wish and his wife, Nancy Kelley, started a family but had lost three children by 1877 as evidenced by their burials in the Waresville Cemetery.

Charles K. WoottonCharles Kirk Wootton, 87, of Uvalde died on Dec. 13, 2019, in Uvalde. He is survived by three daughters, Diane Wootton and fianc, Lee Arredondo, of Uvalde, Brookii Wootton of Dallas, and Kayanndii Russell and husband, Charles, of San Antonio; two sisters, Peggy Sullivan of Tyler and Marjorie Anderson of Kerrville; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Leona Agnes Farley; two brothers, David Wootton and Bobby Wootton; and brother-in-law, Don Anderson. A funeral service was held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary, with interment following at Sabinal Cemetery. Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary, www.rekfunerals.com

John H. Contreras Sr.John Henry Contreras Sr., 65, of Flomaton, Alabama, died on Dec. 10, 2019, at his home. Conteras was born in Knippa on Feb. 18, 1954, to Cruz (Vasquez) and Severo Contreras Sr. Contreras was preceded in death by his mother; and two brothers, Jimmy Contreras and Tony Contreras. Visitation was held Thursday at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel from noon until 2 p.m. Funeral services were held Thursday at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Pallbearers were John Contreras Jr., Marcos Juarez, Dionicio Contreras, Sam Contreras, Severo Contreras Jr. and Ricky Vasquez.

Carlton D. WoodCarlton David Wood, 65, of Knippa died on Aug. 05, 2019, in Knippa. Marie, Michigan, to Sylvia Nell (White) and Alvis Carlton Wood. He was preceded in death by both parents; his twin children, James Matthew Wood and Laura Mae Wood; and granddaughter, Meaghan Gillen. Wood is survived by three sons, David Gregory Wood and wife, Johanna, of Uvalde, Leslie Aaron Wood and Nathan Andrew Wood and wife, Pamela, all of Knippa; daughter, Bridget Vaughn and husband, Tommy, of Abilene; two brothers, Steven Wood and wife, Kendra, of Uvalde and Chuck Wood and wife, Sherry, of Camp Wood; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Hillcrest Memorial, www.hillcrestmemorialfuneralhome.com