By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
County officials gathered just north of the Precinct 3 yard off U.S. Highway 277 north of
Del Rio on Nov. 6 to break ground on a new target range facility.
County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. welcomed those attending the event and said the
county had begun looking into building a new target range in 2020.
“We began applying for grants, trying to get it done, doing the
Thursday for the Val Verde County Target Range Facility. Also attending the ceremony,
were, from left, former Commissioner Pct. 3 Beau Nettleton, Carl Esser, the county’s
grants writer and administrator; Davis Powell, architect; Eddie Frank Sanchez and J.P.
Sanchez II, of J.P. Sanchez Construction Co. of Del Rio, the contractors. (Photo by Karen
Gleason)
environmentals. We were
going to build it on the SE Ranch property, but then we moved it here. It’s a testament to
everybody’s hard work that we were able to get to this point. It’s really impressive,”
Owens said.
He thanked the Precinct 3 crew for putting up signs and chairs and readying the site for
the groundbreaking event.
Owens asked those present to stand for the invocation, delivered by County Attorney
David Martinez.
The county attorney gave a thoughtful, moving prayer, thanking God for the “vision,
resources and dedication that have brought us to this moment,” and asked the range be a
space “where individuals learn respect for the tools of protection and develop skills that
promote safety and peace.”
“May this place stand as a testament to the values of responsibility, discipline and
community. We pray that the range will foster understanding, camaraderie and respect
among all who use it. Let it be place where safety is prioritized and where individuals
grow in knowledge and skill, always mindful of the responsibility that comes with such
power,” Martinez prayed.
Owens next recognized County Commissioner Pct. 3 Fernando Garcia, noting that while
former Commissioner Pct. 3 Beau Nettleton began work toward the project, when Garcia
succeeded Nettleton on the court, he continued Nettleton’s work.
Garcia first welcomed his colleagues on Val Verde County Commissioners Court who
attended the ceremony, County Commissioner Pct. 1 Kerr Wardlaw and County
Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez.
Garcia also welcomed other county and city elected officials attending, including
Martinez, District Attorney Suzanne West, County Tax Assessor Collector Elodia “Loly”
Garcia, Precinct 3 Constable Michael Wancho and City Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. He
also welcomed Sonia Moreno, community liaison from Texas Rep. Eddie Morales’
office.
Commissioners Court, former Commissioner Pct. 3 Beau Nettleton, and others in
breaking ground for the new Val Verde County Target Range Facility north of Del Rio.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the facility was held Thursday morning. (Photo by
Karen Gleason)
Garcia also recognized Nettleton, saying, “This all wouldn’t have been possible without
your leadership.”
Garcia welcomed other community leaders attending the event, including Blanca Larson,
executive director of the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, County Agent Tommy Yeater
and County Veterans Resource Officer Enrique Trevino.
“Thank you all for coming out and sharing your morning with us. Hopefully this turns out
to be a really beautiful project,” Garcia said.
Owens then asked Nettleton to speak.
Nettleton said, “I want to thank everybody for showing up, and I want to thank the
(commissioners) court, the judge and commissioners, for seeing this project through. It’s
a project this community has needed for a long time, and it will be a great asset to our 4-
H youth. Once this is complete, we’ll have enough room to host more children.
“I do hope the day comes when we’ll get to see the state 4-H shooting match here. It’ll be
a great opportunity for this community. It is a privilege to be here, and it was a privilege
to work on this project and to be part of the court that got this done, so I do want to thank
the court for their continued efforts on this project. Thank you all very much,” Nettleton
said.
Owens said he also wanted to recognize some other persons attending the ceremony,
including the county’s grant writer, Carl Esser; Davis Powell, the project’s architect; J.P.
Sanchez II and Eddie Frank Sanchez of J.P. Sanchez Construction Co. Inc., the
contractors for the project; County Engineer Carlos Velarde, County Purchasing Agent
Melissa Vasquez, County Auditor Matt Weingardt and Elizabeth Ferrino, the
commissioners’ secretary.
Owens said construction on the range would begin Monday, Nov. 10.
The target range project will cost a total of $3,028,000, according to a sign posted at the
site, with an investment by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Office of Conservation of $2,316,420, with additional funds from Val Verde
County of $711,580.
Construction of the facility will take about a year.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
