"Stay Connected in The Texas Hill Country" • Current News For Leakey & Surrounding Areas

3/8/2010-News Release

Leakey Independent School District Fred R. McNiel, Superintendent

Michael and Kenneth Fick, the fathers of seven Leakey ISD students and the proprietors of Canyon Brother’s Welding service, recently completed a construction/welding project on the Leakey ISD campus. In the photo above the two brothers proudly pose in front of the sign they designed, built and erected during the Christmas holidays of 2009. The brothers are: (left to right) Michael and Kenneth Fick. This sign replaces one originally built by Leakey ISD Ag students that was torn down by vandals more than a year ago.

Due to excellent police work by Real County Deputy Don Gass, five young men from Uvalde County were tracked down, apprehended, and ultimately confessed to this senseless act of vandalism. These juveniles agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $170 each and consequently, Leakey ISD had $850 to spend toward repairing/replacing the vandalized entrance sign. In addition to the restitution, Real County Justice of the Peace, Brenda Gonzalez required these young men to perform twenty hours of community service to atone for their crime.

 In addition to the restitution money, Kenneth and Barbara Arthur, grandparents of three Leakey ISD students and the owners of the Country Club at Concan, agreed that the $1,000 that they had previously contributed for the air conditioning of the gymnasium could be used for any other worthwhile school project. Nearly twenty thousand dollars was contributed to this fund before it was determined that it was not feasible to air-condition the gymnasium! Some of the contributors wanted their money back since they had made a donation specifically for the air-conditioning project. About half of the donors did not want their money back and gave permission for their donations/contributions to be used in other ways. With the restitution money and the donation from the Arthurs, the school was able to purchase the needed iron and pay the Fick brothers to build and erect the new entrance sign. 

In addition to the Leakey ISD lettering, the Fick brothers also used a plasma-cutter to cut-out two eagles that appear to be landing on each steel pole from which the sign is suspended! The poles are both anchored in masonry columns and the steel poles are welded to the existing iron fence to give the sign additional strength. These gentlemen were concerned about the safety of our students and consequently they did not work on campus during the school day. They began their work about 4:00 p.m. each evening and worked late into the night! One night they worked until 3:30 a.m.! Both Kenneth and Michael are professional welders and they did an excellent job. This entrance sign will proudly serve the community and students of Leakey ISD for many years to come!

We are very proud of this new addition to our campus and would invite the community to come by and see first-hand the sign erected by the Fick brothers. We would like to express our thanks to Kenneth and Michael Fick for their good work. These gentlemen are willing and able to do custom welding service for the Frio Canyon community and they can be reached at either (830) 279-3454 or (830) 275-6056.