Saturday, November 7, 2009

SHOOTING AT FT HOOD

(FT HOOD) A 62-year-old Cameron man was among the 13 killed Thursday in the shooting at Fort Hood.

Mike Cahill, who worked as a physician`s assistant for Dr. Sid Richardson from 1997 until 2000, and who stilled lived in Cameron, was killed during the Thursday afternoon incident. Cahill was a contracted civilian working on the base as a PA.

Military officials continue to piece together what may have pushed an Army psychiatrist  to turn on his comrades in the shooting rampage that killed 13 people and wounded 30 at the army base.

The suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, is in a coma after being shot four times during the shootings.

Fort Hood commander Lt. Gen. Bob Cone is crediting a civilian police officer for stopping the shooting rampage.

Cone said Friday that Fort Hood police Sgt. Kimberly Munley and her partner responded within three minutes of reported gunfire Thursday afternoon.

Cone said Munley shot the gunman four times despite being shot herself.

Officials said Munley was in stable condition.

The gunfire broke out around 1:30 p.m. at the Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening.

The post went into lockdown, and Killeen ISD put all Fort Hood schools on lockdown. Temple ISD was also placed on a "soft" lockdown.

The schools and the post were both open as usual on Friday.

The wounded were dispersed among hospitals in central Texas. Cone said their identities and the identities of the dead were not immediately released.

The Red Cross is urgently requesting blood donations.

The bodies of the victims would be taken to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for autopsies and forensic tests.

There will also be a ceremony at the air base to honor the dead.

The motive for the shooting wasn`t clear, but Hasan was apparently set to deploy soon.

Texas Governon Rick Perry has ordered all flags to half staff until Sunday to honor the fallen.

The governor’s flag order applies to all U.S. and Texas flags under the control of the state. Flags will be lowered to half-staff on the State Capitol Building, flag displays in the Capitol Complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds and facilities beginning immediately until sunset on Sunday, November 8th.

Individuals, businesses, municipalities, counties and other political subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

CAMERON VOLLEYBALL PLAYER INVOLVED IN MAJOR WRECK

(CAMERON) A Cameron Lady Yoe Volleyball player was involved in a major accident Friday afternoon.

Cameron volleyball player Janae Rhoades was the driver of one of the vehicles involved. The other driver was Elonnie Bradley of Waco.

About 5:40PM, the injury wreck occurred at 22nd and Travis. Cameron Fire Dept and AMR both responded.

At this time, it is Unknown who was injured in the accident.

Officer TJ Turner is investigating.

FATAL ACCIDENT IN ROBERTSON CO

(ROBERTSON CO) One person was killed and three were injured in a two-vehicle accident on U.S. 79 in Robertson County on Friday afternoon.

George Edwin Fitts, 72, of Marshall, died at the scene, officials with the Department of Public Safety said.

Officials said Shannon Marie Budzisz, 31, of Hearne, was stopped in the southbound lane of traffic about two miles south of Hearne preparing to turn left onto a county road when Fitts ran into the back of her pickup. The DPS trooper who investigated the accident said Fitts apparently failed to see Budzisz`s vehicle.

The speed limit on that stretch of road is 70 mph.

Budzisz was treated for injuries at St. Joseph Regional Hospital in Bryan and released. A 6-year-old girl in her truck was not injured, officials said.

Two passengers in Fitts` vehicle suffered serious injuries and were hospitalized. They were said to be stable but their conditions were not available.

Everyone involved in the accident was wearing a seat belt, according to the trooper`s report.

REMAINS IDENTIFIED

(BELL CO) Human remains found last month have now been identified, according the Bell County Sheriff`s Office.

The remains, found October 18th, were taken to the Southwest Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas for positive identification. Results from the dental records have positively identified the skull as that of Stephon Shane Sonnier, 35, of Belton.

Sonnier had not been seen since May of 2009, and was reported missing by the family in July.

Additional evidence was discovered at Stillhouse Hollow Dam on Thursday by Sheriff`s investigators. The case remains under investigation.

HOSPITAL MERGER DENIED

(TEMPLE) The Federal Trade Commission has put a halt to Scott & White taking over King`s Daughters Hospital.

Earlier in the year, King`s Daughters Hospital board let it be known the hospital was in financial trouble and could no longer operate as community hospital. After looking for another health care system to merge with, or to take over the Temple facility, the KDH board OK`d a proposal by Scott & White to merge with the facility and convert it into a regional children`s hospital.

The transfer of ownership to Scott & White became effective April 1. Scott & White agreed to operate King`s Daughters as an acute-care hospital until the conversion to a children`s hospital was complete and received FTC approval.

Dr. Alfred Knight, CEO and President of Scott & White, said, "From the FTC perspective, the merger of King`s Daughters Hospital with Scott & White was anti-competitive., with the market being the Temple/Belton region."

According to the FTC, indications are that KDH would remain an acute-care facility.

Knight said Scott and White has reached a settlment and agreement with another healthcare system approved by the FTC, to aquire KDH, and that system can choose to accept the FTC decision or continue with the original plan of turning the hospital into a children`s hospital.

EDWARDS MUM ON HIS HEALTCARE STANCE

(WACO) Congressman Chet Edwards of Waco isn`t budging.  He and members of his office are refusing to say how the District 17 Representative will vote on the Health Care Reform Bill this Saturday.

Edwards said late Friday afternoon that he`ll reveal his stance on the issue shortly before the vote.

House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer told reporters earlier Friday that the make-or-break vote on Obama`s top priority could face delay and might not come until Sunday or later. Democrats indicated they don`t have enough votes lined up to conduct the vote tomorrow.

INTERNET THREAT PUTS BREMOND ISD ON LOCKDOWN

(BREMOND) Bremond Independent School District parents received a letter Friday explaining that the school had been locked down while the Robertson County Sheriff`s Office checked out a threat posted on a Facebook page.

The letter says just before Noon the school learned that a man posted what was described as a "terroristic threat" on the Internet. The district called police who notified the Sheriff. He along with a deputy went to the man`s home address and took him into custody.

No information was immediately available about the nature of the threat or what charges are being filed.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE SURPASSES 10%

(WASHINGTON) Just when it was beginning to look a little better, the economy relapsed Friday with a return to double-digit unemployment for only the second time since World War II and warnings that next year will be even worse than previously thought.

The jobless rate rocketed to 10.2 percent in October, the highest since early 1983, dealing a psychological blow to Americans as they prepare holiday shopping lists. It was another worse-than-expected report casting a shadow over the struggling recovery.

President Barack Obama called it "a sobering number that underscores the economic challenges that lie ahead." He signed a measure to extend unemployment benefits and to expand a tax credit for homebuyers.

The Labor Department, using a survey of company payrolls, said the economy shed 190,000 jobs in October. A separate survey of households found 558,000 more people were unemployed last month than in September. Some 15.7 million Americans are out of work.

The survey of companies doesn`t count the self-employed and undercounts employees of small businesses. So the economic picture could be even more dire.

October was the 22nd straight month the U.S. economy has lost jobs, the longest on record dating back 70 years.

However, Temporary employment grew by 33,700 jobs, its third straight month of gains after steep losses earlier this year.

SWINE FLU VACCINE IN MILAM COUNTY

(CAMERON) The Milam County Health Department will be offering H1N1 Flu Vaccines to Milam County residents next week, according to Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Michelle Ferguson.

Adults and children 6 months of age and up may get the vaccine on a first come, first served basis. Vaccines will be given free of charge.

The vaccine will be administered from 8AM-5PM on Monday, November 9th and Tuesday, November 10th or as supplies last, all at the Milam County Youth Expo Building at 301 S. Houston, Cameron.

H1N1 Flu-Mist and H1N1 shots are both available, call 254-697-7039 for more information.

ON GOLDEN POND COMING

(CAMERON)  On Golden Pond produced by Milam Community Theater will open tonight with an 8 p.m. Performance at the Williams Civic Center in Cameron.

Buzz Rahm, from Morgan’s Point, and Mona Batula, from Rockdale, play Norman and Ethel Thayer, an older couple who re-discover the meaning of life and family while spending their summers in a lake cottage in Maine in the acclaimed play, “On Golden Pond.”

A membership reception will be held prior to the curtain, beginning at 7 p.m. tonight.  Additional performances are Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m., Saturday Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. and the show closes Sunday Nov. 15 with a 2 p.m. matinee.

The supporting cast for the show are Melanie Reed as Chelsea, Dustan Owen as Bill, Hayden Wilson as Billy, Buddy Shuffield as Charlie and Carter Whitmire as the Operator. The theater’s Web site, www.MilamCommunityTheater.com, has more information about the show and directions to the civic center.

COMMUNITY NEWS

(BURLINGTON)  The Burlington Vol. Fire Dept. will host their Garage sale today  starting at 7 a.m.  Sodas, coffee and snacks will be available.  The Dept. is located on Hwy 77 at CR 133 in Burlington....watch for the signs.  Donations for the sale are appreciated.  Contact Gene or Ellen Klein at 742-8544 or 742-5487; or Judy or Sandi at 254 869-2585

(ROSEBUD)  Rosebud will have its 24th Annual 100+ Garage Sales event today.  There will be over 100 garage sales across the city with booth space downtown also available for vendors and garage sales.  For more information or reservations, call Marvin Bernsen at Poppy Dean`s Antiques at 254- 583-0147 or Roy Spivey at 254-583-2345.

(ROSEBUD)  The 14th Annual Turkey and Dressing Dinner in Rosebud will be held today from 11AM-1PM. The supper will be in the St. Anne`s Center on S. Stallworth St. in Rosebud. Plates are $8 and include turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings. To-go plates will be available. Several raffles will also take place. The event is sponsored by the St. Anne`s Ladies Guild.

H.S. FOOTBALL

(CAMERON)  The Cameron Yoemen needed a win over Caldwell and a Rockdale loss in Week 10 of the high school football season on Friday, and got neither as the Yoemen just didn`t have enough to beat District Champ, Caldwell, falling at Yoe Field, 35-28.  Meanwhile, Rockdale rolled over Taylor, 57-14 to lock up a playoff spot.  Cameron & Caldwell were locked up at halftime, 14-14, as Caldwell took a 21-14 lead midway through the 3rd quarter, driving 86 yards on 11 plays.  The Yoemen scored a pair of 4th quarter touchdowns, as Tommy Anderson caught a 6 yard pass from Steven Townsend, and Thomas Rinn snagged another TD pass late, but the Yoemen couldn`t stop the running game of the Hornets, as Kyson Woolverton scored a pair of TDs in the 4th quarter, and the Yoemen couldn`t cover an onside kick.  With the loss, the Yoemen miss the playoffs for the 2nd straight year.  In other 24-3A play, Navasota locked up the Division I playoff spot, beating Madisonville, 21-16.

Elsewhere, in Central Texas, the Rogers Eagles locked up a playoff spot in 25-2A Friday in grand fashion rolling over rival Salado, 42-14.  Lago Vista crushed Jarrell, 42-17.  Academy beat Florence, 36-25.  In 16-2A, it took 3 overtimes, but McGregor claimed a district title, beating Troy, 50-48.  Crawford took a playoff spot with a 61-0 win over Moody.  Rosebud Lott lost a week after claiming a play off spot.  The Coogs fell to Hearne, 24-7.  Franklin finsihed district 20-2A play unbeaten, shutting out Teague, 14-0.  In 1A, Thrall took the final District 26-1A playoff spot, besting Milano in overtime, 21-14.

LADY YOE WIN

(HUNTSVILLE)  The Lady Yoe Volleyball team came from behind in dramatic fashion Thursday in Huntsville in the area round of the 3A state playoffs.  Hamshire Fannet took the first two games 25-21, 25-23, but Coach Linda Richter`s Lady Yoe battled back, taking game 3, 25-20.  Then stole game 4, 25-22, before finsihing off the Lady Longhorns 15-9 in a thrilling game 5. 

Cameron will face Splendora next Tuesday at Bryan High in the 3rd round of the playoffs, with a trip to the region 3 tournament on the line for the winner.

POLICE REPORT

(CAMERON) Cameron Police reported an accident at 5:40pm at 22nd and Travis. Major accident w/ injuries. Cameron Fire Dept and AMR responded.
Drivers were: Janae Rhoades of Cameron and Elonnie Bradley of Waco. Unknown who was injured at this time. Officer TJ Turner is investigating.

(ROCKDALE) Rockdale Police reported 5 EMS runs and several arrests
--49 of Rockdale for ASsault
--Samuel Weston of Rockdale for DWLI
--21 of Rockdale Failure to Display DL
Fire Dept toned at 8PM to Champions Dr. for report of smoke coming from pool heater. No fire.
Responded to Renassaince Villa for smoke in the dining area at about 8:14PM
At 8:36PM, sent to Ackerman Dr. for report of Carbon Monoxide.

(CAMERON) The Milam County Sheriff`s Department reported no new arrests:
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There were 122 prisoners in the Milam County Jail this morning, including 35 prisoners housed for Brazos County.

(CAMERON)  Buzz Rahm, from Morgan’s Point, and Mona Batula, from Rockdale, play Norman and Ethel Thayer, an older couple who re-discover the meaning of life and family while spending their summers in a lake cottage in Maine in the acclaimed play, “On Golden Pond.” The show is produced by Milam Community Theater and will open Saturday, Nov. 7 with an 8 p.m. Performance at the Williams Civic Center in Cameron. A membership reception will be held prior to the curtain, beginning at 7 p.m. Additional performances are Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m., Saturday Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. and the show closes Sunday Nov. 15 with a 2 p.m. matinee. The supporting cast for the show are Melanie Reed as Chelsea, Dustan Owen as Bill, Hayden Wilson as Billy, Buddy Shuffield as Charlie and Carter Whitmire as the Operator. The theater’s Web site, www.MilamCommunityTheater.com, has more information about the show and directions to the civic center.