Wednesday, May 28, 1997
Area news digest
Four treated for injuries suffered in two accidents
EASTLAND - Four people injured in two accidents Friday in Eastland
County were all treated for injuries and released from area hospitals.
Christine Nance of Cisco was treated at Hendrick Medical Center.
She was a passenger in a car driven by Lois Donham Carr, 73, of
Cisco. Carr was treated and released at Eastland Memorial Hospital.
Also treated and released from the Eastland hospital were two
Cisco Junior College students involved in a separate one-car accident.
Driver was Kathryn Preddy, 19. Amy D. Beard, 20, of Eastland was
a passenger.
Brownwood City Counci approves funds for crime task force
BROWNWOOD - The Brownwood City Council wants to send an anti-crime
message to criminals by providing funds to support law enforcement.
Council members approved budget amendments at their Tuesday
meeting to provide $7,500 to the West Central Texas Interlocal
Crime Task Force and $1,330 for a bicycle patrol officer in Brownwood.
City finance director Ricky Jorgenson reported to the council
that up to $45,000 could be allocated to fund other police
programs without adversely affecting the city's budget. Jorgenson
said that money comes from expenditure savings.
The money would help Brownwood Police Chief Virgil Cowin implement
his Crimestop 2000 plan. The council gave preliminary approval
to part of that plan at its meeting, calling for a reserve police
officer program. Final approval for the program is scheduled for
the next council meeting.
In other business, the council voted to change its regular
meeting time from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Brownwood man charged with attempted murder
BROWNWOOD - A Brownwood man was booked into the Brown County
Jail on Tuesday for attempted murder in connection with a weekend
shooting that sent one man to the hospital.
Bond for Benny Fay Leach, 35, was set at $50,000.
Lane Thompson, 36, of Round Rock remains in good condition
at Columbia's Brownwood Regional Medical Center with a gunshot
wound to the leg.
Police were called to Cleburne Street just after 9 p.m. Sunday
and found a man lying by the side of the road. The victim, Thompson,
had a nickel-sized gunshot wound in his right thigh.
Thompson's wife told authorities that Leach shot her husband
and then sped away.
According to police reports, the incident started as a domestic
dispute. Thompson and his wife were arguing in their car when
she got out of the vehicle. She said her husband then drove up
to Leach's car across the street and she heard a gunshot.
Leach was later arrested at his home. Police gained permission
to search the residence and found a rifle.
On Monday, police received a call about 6 p.m. from a man who
said there was a shotgun under his trailer house. He identified
the weapon as belonging to Leach. Police confiscated the gun and
found one fired shell inside.
Eastland County to contribute to task force coffers
EASTLAND - Eastland County will pay its share to help fund
the West Central Texas Interlocal Crime Task force for its 1997-98
fiscal year that starts Sunday.
The county's portion is about $8,000 and will be paid in monthly
installments. Commissioners hesitated until they were assured
that reports of the agency's activities would be made, local press
releases would be distributed and the county would receive a part
of the seizure money.
Eastland County Sheriff Wayne Bradford said his department
is primarily interested in agents for undercover work.
In other business, treasurer Ruth Hart agreed to sign checks
to a vendor after the county auditor said they should be signed.
Hart had refused to sign the checks because the business, which
supplies fuel to county vehicles, owes more than $13,000 in back
taxes.
"You can take action today by not putting more money in
his back pocket," she said.
Hart read from a local government code book which states that
county funds shouldn't be paid until outstanding debts are settled.
County Auditor Don Hazelip said taxes are not considered indebtedness.
He said that until there is a judgment against the firm, the checks
should be paid. He suggested getting an opinion from District
Attorney Mike Siebert.
Also, a bid was awarded to Mid-Continental Restoration Co.
of Haltom City to restore the exterior of the courthouse.
As soon as the district attorney approves the contract, work
will begin.
Vote on task force funding delayed
ANSON - A vote on funding for the West Central Texas Interlocal
Crime Task Force won't come until the Jones County Commissioners
meet June 9.
The topic was discussed at Tuesday's meeting, but no vote could
be taken because it wasn't on the agenda.
County Judge Brad Rowland said the funding request wasn't on
the agendabecause the letter concerning it was received after
the meeting notice was posted.
Commissioners were not against the funding request in their
discussions Tuesday. A letter from task force board chairman Jack
Dieken explained that the federal government will fund 75 percent
of the expense but local entities in 15 counties must promise
to match the other 25 percent.
Based on population, Jones County would be expected to pay
5.59 percent, which is estimated at $7,071.
The amount would be accurate if all counties remain as members,
but if a county drops out, its share must be absorbed by the remaining
counties.
In the past, counties have pledged but haven't had to pay because
seizures of money and other items in drug raids have been enough
to make up the 25 percent. Those proceeds have lessened recently.
In other action Tuesday:
-- Commissioners approved a contract offered by Carol Bradley,
a representative from Southwestern Bell.
She offered to renew the county's contract for five years with
25 to 28 percent commission and a $2,500 sign-up bonus.
-- Commissioners voted 3-1 to make the newly renovated courthouse
a smoke-free facility.
-- Commissioners approved the purchase of a $9,000 shredder
for Precinct 1.
Merkel administrator offered job as city manager
MERKEL - City Administrator Robert Harris has been conditionally
offered the job as city manager.
After a one-hour executive session Monday, the Merkel City
Council said Harris must agree to accomplish a list of goals that
will be determined during a workshop next week.
Alderman Steve Campell voted against offering the job to Harris,
Merkel's city administrator since 1994 and a city employee for
37 years.
"His track record over the past three years leads me to
believe that he doesn't have either the desire or capability to
handle the administrative end" of city government, Campbell
said.
The new position evolved after voters adopted the city manager
form of government May 3.
In other business:
-- The council approved spending $26,500 for the hiring of
a community/economic development specialist. The specialist would
work for the city, economic development board and chamber of commerce.
-- The city attorney will be asked to draft an ordinance for
a hotel/motel tax and to write a resolution changing the city's
voting method from at-large to a place system.
Mitchell County to support crime task force
COLORADO CITY - Mitchell County Commissioners agreed Tuesday
to support the West Central Texas Interlocal Crime Task Force.
The task force is asking each governmental body in its region
to pay on a pro rata basis according to population to make up
for the decrease in seizures from drug raids.
Mitchell County's share is $3,390, said County Judge Ray Mayo.
Sheriff Patrick Toombs will consult with Colorado City to see
if it will help pay the cost, Mayo said.
The county doesn't have the money budgeted for this fiscal
year, but the sheriff said he would include it in the next budget,
Mayo said.
In other business:
-- An outside audit prepared by Carol McDonald was accepted.
"Everything was in order," Mayo said.
-- The county agreed to pay $1,000 of a $2,000 electrical repair
bill resulting from a fire at the girls softball field.
-- The Christmas In April program donated a vacant lot to the
county. The lot, which will not be put to use in the near future,
is across from the county jail.
-- The council decided to take a proposed zoning ordinance
away from the planning and zoning board after hearing that three
of the five board members have resigned.
Stephens County attorney to prepare inmate work request
BRECKENRIDGE - Stephens County Attorney Gary Trammel will prepare
an application for organizations requesting work done by jail
inmates, commissioners decided Tuesday.
Stephens County Sheriff Jim Reeves gave a report to commissioners
on the use of inmates for manual labor. The workforce originally
was to do work for the county such as cutting brush to eliminate
the need for additional county employees.
But commissioners complained that so many organizations had
been using the workforce to help with their activities that there
is little time to help the county.
Trammel will prepare an application form and a master calendar
to schedule the work.
In other business:
n First National Bank, Albany/Breckenridge, was awarded depository
for county funds for four years. FNB was the only bank that submitted
a bid.
n Commissioners accepted the resignation of Linda Caufman from
the Stephens Memorial Hospital board of governors with appreciation
for her service. They tabled appointment of a new member.
n The Child Welfare Board was enlarged from seven to nine members
with Fran Sikes and Barbara Thornton appointed.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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