Monday, February 6, 2012

STORMS SLAM MILAM COUNTY FRIDAY

(CENTRAL TEXAS) National Weather Service investigators will be in Burleson County today looking into what is believed to be a tornado that touched down Friday.

A fierce line of storms packing high winds, heavy rain, and thunder blew through Milam, Burleson and Brazos Counties Friday night, causing widespread flooding and downed power lines and trees.

Cameron picked up just over 3 inches of rain as a result. The town of Gause was hit hardest here, as many cars were reported trapped in the flooding on US79 and FM2095. Rainfall in the Gause area was reported in the 5-6 inch range.

Meanwhile, in Burleson County, Snook-area residents spent most of the weekend cleaning up after what citizens are calling a tornado ran through the area, damaging homes and businesses. Residents say a tornado with winds of 80-110 MPH touched down near the small town, with the worst of the damage near TX50 and CR269. At least 6 area homes were damaged, with several large trees, storage sheds, and barns also destroyed.

NWS investigators will be in Burleson County today to determine if in fact a tornado did touch down. If one did, it would be the 2nd to hit Burleson County in the last 2 weeks.

20TH DISTRICT COURT

(CAMERON)  A 40-year-old Cameron man was sentenced to 15 years in prison last week in 20th District Court in Milam County, according to District Attorney Kerry Spears.  In a press release from Spears` office, Jasper Canady England pled guilty to two counts of a 2nd degree felony offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a 2nd degree felony offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, enhanced, a state jail felony offense, possession of a controlled substance less than one gram, enhanced, 3rd degree felony offense, tampering with evidence, a 3rd degree felony offense of failure to register as a sex offender, and 3 counts of a state jail felony offense of delivery of a controlled substance, less than one gram enhanced.

In other court cases:

--Alison Lindsey Winkelman, 24, of Rockdale was sentenced to two years in state jail, probated for five years, with standard probation conditions, including substance abuse evaluation.  Winkelman was also ordered to pay restitution, after pleading guilty to a state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, less than one gram.

--Lizza Michelle Flores, 23, of Rockdale pled guilty to a state jail felony offense of forgery of a financial instrument by passing and was sentenced to two years in state jail, probated for 3 years.  Flores was also ordered to undergo substance abuse evaluation as a condition of her probation.

--Travis Carter Stanford, 32, of Cameron had his probation revoked and was sentenced to 14 months in state jail after he pled true to violating conditions of his probation on an original charge of forgery of a financial instrument.

--Christopher Chad Bonnet, 19, of Rockdale was placed on 3 years deferred adjudication probation with standard probation conditions, after pleading guilty to a state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, less than one gram.

--Jessica Sakewitz, 26, of Taylor was placed on 5 years deferred adjudication probation with standard conditions of probation, including substance abuse evaluation and any recommended treatment, and was ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to a state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, less than one gram in a drug free zone.

--Dalton Morgan, 31, of Tyler was sentenced to 2 years in state jail, probated for 5 years with standard probation conditions, after pleading guilty to a state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, less than one gram, and possession of a controlled substance, less than one gram, analogue.

--Matthew Martin, 24, of College Station had his probation revoked and was sentenced to 15 months in state jail, and was ordered to pay restitution after he pled true to violating conditions of his probation on a motion to revoke for a state jail felony offense, unauthorized use a motor vehicle.

MOTHER SEEKS ANSWERS IN SON`S HEARNE MURDER

(WACO) The mother of a Hearne murder victim is set to appear in Federal Court today as part of a lawsuit against several parties involved in the murder investigation.

Sandi Johnson, whose son Hank, 27, was beaten so severely at a Hearne motel, that he died, will appear in Waco Federal Court today as part of the lawsuit.

No one has ever been charged in the death of her son, and the lawsuit claims that several parties involved in the investigation are responsible for the murder being unsolved. The lawsuit names the City of Hearne, Robertson County Emergency Medical Services, and multiple people Johnson alleges were involved in the murder, including Robertson County DA John Paschall`s brother-in-law.

According to the lawsuit, first responders from Robertson County failed to get Hank Johnson to a hospital in time to save his life, and that a medical helicopter transport sent to the scene did not have the proper equipment on board. The suit also alleges that even though police identified 3 suspects, they were never properly interrogated and that Paschall himself questioned one of them, his brother-in-law. According to the suit, questioning his brother-in-law would have disqualified Paschall from prosecuting the case had it ever gone to trial.

Hank Johnson was staying at Executive Inn in Hearne in July 2008 when the brutal murder occurred. He died after 11 days in the hospital.

Sandi Johnson also pushed for her son`s remains to be exhumed in March 2010 in an attempt to help gather more DNA evidence that wasn`t previously collected. Following his exhumation, his remains were sent to Galveston County where DNA evidence was collected.

CAMERON CITY COUNCIL MEET

(CAMERON) The Cameron City Council will meet in a regular meeting today to Consider and Possibly Take Action Regarding the Request by Abiding Savior Lutheran Church for Use of the downtown mall area for Easter Sunrise Service.

In other business, the council will Consider and Possibly Take Action Regarding Request for Use of the Civic Center for the Black History Program and hear a Second and Final Reading of An Ordinance by the City of Cameron that Prohibits Outdoor Burning.

The regular meeting is scheduled for today at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers located on the third floor on the Cameron City Hall.

FILINGS BEGIN MONDAY

(MILAM COUNTY)  Area school and city office candidates can begin to file today for a place on the May 12th city council and school board ballots. 

Cameron ISD voters will elect 4 board members, with 3 to be seated to 3-year terms, and one to an unexpired two year term.  The terms of trustees Carl Bradley, Michael Watkins and Randy Miller expire in May, as will the unexpired term of Robert Conley, who was appointed by the board late last year to fill the position previously held by Phil Tucker, who resigned his seat on the board.

In the Cameron City Council election, the 2-year term of Mayor Connie Anderle, Ward 2 Councilman Bobby Schiller and Ward 4 Councilwoman Rose Mondrik expire in May. 

Rockdale voters will elect Rockdale City Council members to two year terms in two wards.  The terms of West Ward Councilman Allan Miller and East Ward Councilman Willie Phillips expire in May.

The Rockdale school board election will feature two members to 3-year terms.  Terms of Place 1 trustee Mike Pruett, and Place 2 trustee Wayne Fisher are up in May.

In the Milano school board election, voters will elect 3 board members.  Terms of John Yakesch and Alden Crowe are up in May, as is the term for Lynette Taylor.

In the Milano city election, terms of Mayor Billy Barnett and Councilman Carol Newman are up in May.  Voters there will also fill an unexpired term held by Jerry Hall, who was appointed last year to the council.

BOIL NOTICE INFO

(CEN-TEX) Several Central Texas communities and customers of area rural water supply corporations have been notified that the boil water notice that was placed in effect early last week has now been lifted.

The notices were issued for Bell-Milam-Falls Water Supply, Bell Co. WSID #5, Little Elm Valley WSC, and Salem Elm Ridge.

Again all boil notices for those water customers have been lifted.

HUNDREDS SHOW SUPPORT FOR TEEN

(TEMPLE)  Hundreds of people came out to support a 14-year-old girl seriously injured in a school bus crash in January.  The benefit for Haley Johannsen was held Saturday from 2pm to Midnight at the Oscar Store outside Temple.  The event included live music, food and games. 

Haley and bus driver James Johnson were the most seriously hurt of the 29 students and three adults who were taken to hospitals after the collision at the intersection of FM 93 and Old Highway 95 on Jan. 17.  Johnson remains in serious condition at Scott & White.

Organizers sold t-shirts and held an auction to help raise money for Haley`s recovery.  Haley and her family are currently in Fort Worth, where she is undergoing rehabilitation therapy.

4-H PLACES AT HORSE SHOW

(CAMERON) Milam County 4-H`ers fared well at the recent Montgomery County Horse Show.

Brodie Sexton took 1st in Halter Competition at the intermediate level, and the Junior team took 6th overall. Jistol Walzel, Sydney Vaculin, Braden Sexton, and Darci Denio each earned awards, with Vaculin taking 9th in Reasons and Denio placing 8th in Reasons and 9th in Performance.

Other intermediate team members included Gracen Dach, Emily Graham and Jale Walzel.

YOE BASKETBALL

(CAMERON) The Cameron Yoemen dropped another district bout with Lexington 69-41 Friday night.

However, the Lady Yoe picked up their third district win against the Lady Eagles of Lexington 46-33.

The Lady Yoe will finish their season Tuesday at home against Florence. The Yoemen are also at home this week, playing Florence on Tuesday and Academy on Firday, before wrapping the season up next Tuesday in Lago Vista.

In other District 27-2A action, it took Academy two overtimes to get past Lago Vista 58-51 and Thorndale won in a close game with Rogers 47-43. 

POLICE REPORT

(CAMERON) The Cameron Police Department reported 2 EMS runs and no other activity.

(ROCKDALE) The Rockdale Police Department reported 2 EMS calls and toned Fire Dept to a fire alarm at 8:17PM at 414 Rice. Called false alarm.
There were 2 arrests:
--Jony Alvarez Benitez of Rockdale for DWLI
--23-yr-old of Rockdale for Assault by Contact Family Violence

(CAMERON)  The Milam County Sheriff`s Department reported 5 new arrests:
--Patrick Ryan Feltz, 26 of Cameron for DWI-2nd and DWLI w/ Previous
--Sylvester Kendre Brown, 23 of Harker Heights for Manufacture/Delivery of Controlled Substance 200-400 Grams

There were no accidents reported in the 24-hour period, ending at 6 a.m. this morning.  There were 93 prisoners is in the Milam County Jail, including 2 being housed for Cameron Police.

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