UTOPIA

MichaelDerry In a divided vote of 4-3, Utopia Independent School District trustees approved the district’s transition to a four-day instructional week beginning with the 2023-24 school year. Superintendent Michael Derry said the request to investigate a four-day instructional week has been brought up for the last three years by teachers at Utopia, with the latest

Gene McArthur Gene McArthur, 98, of Knippa died on Feb. 20, 2023, at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio. A private graveside memorial will be held at Jones Cemetery in Utopia, Texas. Gene was born Dec. 22, 1924, in San Antonio, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Fern Shimp McArthur;

Alexander H. Sheffield III Alexander “Sandy” H. Sheffield III, 85, of Utopia died on Dec. 25, 2022, at his residence. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 21 at Utopia United Methodist Church. He was born on April 26, 1937, in Houston to Ida Pearl (Spates) and Alexander “Sandy” Sheffield Jr.

Jacqueline G. Triner Jacqueline Gay Triner, 81, of Utopia, died on Dec. 3, 2022, at Amistad Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on Sept. 13, 1941, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Fern (Randolph) and Richard Kraniewski. Triner is survived by three sons, James Richard Triner and wife, Janet, of Dilley, Stephen Allen Triner and wife,

Utopia school officials say a firearm was accidentally discharged Wednesday at 10 a.m. inside the school’s maintenance shed. Superintendent Michael Derry said no injuries were reported and the projectile remained inside the shed. “This matter is still an active investigation so I cannot talk about it,” Derry said. The Uvalde County Sheriff’s office did not

Utopia, a tiny community on the edge of Uvalde County, has allowed some teachers and school staff to carry guns since 2013.

The director Jane Schoenbrun’s new horror film is about a teen girl’s coming of age online. Schoenbrun talks with the Radio Hour’s Alex Barron about how movies have depicted the virtual world.

Wilma C. Ballard Wilma “Gigi” Cleo Ballard, 97, of Utopia, died on March 9, 2022, at The Veranda Assisted Living facility in Uvalde. A memorial service will be held April 1 at 2 p.m. at the Utopia First United Methodist Church. She was born on Feb. 11, 1925, in Crystal City to Grace (Miller) Wiley

UTOPiAfest lineup is set for October.

Helen Elaine Thomas Snider, 94, of Utopia died on Feb. 25, 2022, at her daughter’s home in Boerne after a long battle with cancer. A graveside service will be held today at 1 p.m. at Pecan Grove Memorial Park at Industrial Blvd and Highway 5 in McKinney. Services are under the direction of Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne, and […]

Jose Angel Santillano, 67, of Utopia, died on Feb. 5, 2022, at North Central Baptist Hospital in San Antonio. Tomorrow at St. Mary Catholic Church in Vanderpool, visitation will begin at 10 a.m., a rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m., and a funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Vanderpool Cemetery. He was born […]

Utopia resident John Allen Walts, 45, died Tuesday as the result of a two-vehicle wreck on Ranch to Market Road 187, two miles north of Sabinal. A second driver, John Patrick Hawkins, 57, of Spring, was also pronounced dead at the scene. Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the fatal wreck, which occurred at approximately 7:14 p.m. The preliminary […]

FarmerHenry Jack Farmer, 89, of Utopia died on Jan. 28, 2020, in Kerrville. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 11 a.m. at the Utopia Baptist Church. He was born Dec. 13, 1930, in Crosby to Ouida Mae (Gumm) and Jack Amos Farmer. The couple had three children, Penny, Ken and Kelly Farmer, all born in Baytown. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Bobbie Ruth Mills and Shirley Heintschel; and brother, Earl Farmer.

Robert H. StroutRobert Hayes Strout, 82, of Utopia died on Dec. 27, 2019, in Kerrville. Strout served in the United States Air Force for 22 years, with two tours in Vietnam and remote tours of duty in Japan. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Jane Strout; brother, Kenneth Strout; and grandson, Tommy Durham. Pallbearers were Paul Maruyama, Rene Zeelanburg, Victor Perez, Alex Perez, Jeff Whitaker, Jason Hook and Heath Hook. Box 388, Utopia, TX 78884.

Helen StraitHelen Strait, 69, of Utopia died on Dec. 11, 2019, in Uvalde. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary in Uvalde. She was born on Dec. 11, 1950, in Prior, Oklahoma to Edna (Casey) and Jesse D. Moore. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a masters degree in English and taught English courses at Southwest Texas Junior College-Eagle Pass for 14 years. Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary, www.rekfunerals.com

Have you ever wondered how some South Texas towns got their names? Here are the stories behind Utopia and Comfort.

Increase equates to $106.3MMelissa FederspillStaff WriterAccording to the 2019 certified tax rolls published by the Uvalde County Appraisal District, Uvalde Countys total freeze-adjusted taxable value spiked to $1.7 billion, marking a $106.3 million increase over last years certified rolls. The other taxing entities include Uvalde County, Uvalde County Road and Flodd, City of Uvalde, City of Sabinal, Southwest Texas Junior College, Utopia and Vanderpool Emergency Service District and Uvalde County Underground Water Conservation District. Uvalde CountyThe county of Uvaldes freeze-adjusted taxable value grew to $1.7 billion for 2019, an increase of $106 million from the $1.6 billion certified valuation in 2018. The Uvalde County Road and Flood freeze-adjusted taxable value grew by $106.4 million to $1.7 billion, as compared to last years $1.6 billion. Junior College, OthersWith an $88.8 million increase, SWTJCs freeze-adjusted taxable value is now $1.8 billion, up from last years value of $1.7 billion.

Lane RiggsStaff WriterWhat began as competition between brothers paid off this month as Utopia residents Riley and Jett Smothers each won the American highest-overall award in their respective age divisions of the 2019 Texas 4-H state shotgun shoot. His combined score of 199 for his events won him the American highest-overall award. Jett who also shot his personal best, a 45 of 50, in the junior division won the international highest-overall award and American highest-overall award. He was named the shotgun shootout champion and gunsmoke champion. The boys and their parents, Jena and Ronald Smothers, are excited about the win.

Jack L. CalkJack Leland Calk, 81, of Utopia died on July 17, 2019, in Utopia. A funeral service will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Uvalde. Cremation is under the direction of Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary. A complete obituary will appear in a future edition of the Uvalde Leader-News.