-VOLUME 17 NO. 154, TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2001-

Evidence indicates 15-year-old Karina Agular of Liberty ingested an entire bottle of prescription medication purchased for another family member and died in her bedroom either late Saturday or early Sunday. Liberty Police Detective Bill Griffin said family members told him the teenager had no history of depression or emotional problems, but apparently became angry when her parents insisted she remain home Saturday night when she wanted to go out with friends. The family discovered their daughter’s body Sunday morning at their Layl Drive home and Precinct #5 JP Burl Thomas has ordered an autopsy performed.

Dayton resident Norman Brown has become the first to formally announce his candidacy for Precinct #4 Liberty County Commissioner. The Dayton native, who is retired from the Chemical and Refining Industry, now works as a general partner in a consulting firm and serves on the Precinct #4 Road and Bridge Committee. Norman Brown will seek the Democratic Nomination for Precinct #4 Commissioner in the 2002 Primary.

Liberty Police said 40-year-old Darren Spears of Dayton broke up a fight Saturday afternoon, only to have one of the participants show up at his mother’s home on Alabama Street in Liberty that evening and attack him. The assailant reportedly stood in the middle of the street and fired at least three 20 gauge shot gun blasts through the door of the home, demolishing the door and inflicting minor wounds to both of Darren Spears legs. The suspect fled the scene in an Oldsmobile sedan across Hwy 90 and with police in pursuit, leapt from the car. The driver-less sedan plowed into a house on Trinity Street. The suspect, who still has not been positively identified, escaped on foot.

The State Champion Liberty Belles 13-15 year old Softball Team is headed for the National Tournament in Tennessee this coming weekend and the team is hoping to raise the necessary funds to make the trip. Head Coach Bobby Rader said this is the farthest a Liberty Belles Team has gone into the post season and they need about $8,000 to make the trip. Anyone wishing to help the girls with a donation can call 336-3645.

7/31 FUNERAL: Bobbie Fregia, 68, of Hardin, Services at 10 a.m. tomorrow at North Main Baptist Church in Liberty.

**LAKE RELEASE: 1,410 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 5.88 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO. 153, FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2001-

According to a report from the DPS, Tammy Lucas Allen, 35 of Liberty was killed in a car accident on Highway 105 in Batson Saturday evening. Jordan Edward King, 17 of Montgomery reportedly was traveling East when he lost control of his vehicle and struck the westbound vehicle of Mrs. Allen. Tammy Allen was pronounced dead at the scene by a Hardin County Justice of the Peace. Mr. King was taken to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Beaumont, where he is described as being in stable condition.

Former District #4 State Senator Michael Galloway announced Friday he will run for that position again. Galloway announced Friday he will run for that position again. Galloway, who lost the 1998 election to current District #4 Sate Senator DAvid Bernsen, said he is ready to represent District #4 in Austin again. Incumbent Senator Bernsen has not announced if he intends to seek reelection.

According to Liberty Police Detective Bill Griffin, A Liberty man and his wife are facing possible charges of animal cruelty. Detective Griffin reported the cities animal control officer was summoned to the home of Jim and Patricia Phipps and found 9 dogs and 3 cats, which appeared to be malnourished and severely infested with fleas. The 12 pets were taken to a veterinarian and if they are found to be malnourished, then cruelty charges could follow.

According to Liberty Lions Club President Brian Reynolds, retired distributor for Oak Farms Dairy Walter Shoaf, and David Leonard of Liberty Dayton Chrysler received the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellow award. This is the highest honor awarded to a Lions Club Member.

7/30 Funerals:

Tammy L. Lucas Allen, 35 of Liberty, Services will be Wednesday at 2m at the Allison Funeral Home in Liberty

Betty Marlene Davis Hauke, 63 of Cleveland. Services will be today at 10am at the Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Cleveland.

Hubert Clifford "Papa" Powell, 74 of Hardin. Services will be today at 10am at North Main Baptist Church in Liberty

Karen K. Simpson, 45 of Houston. Services tomorrow at 10am at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Liberty.

J.R. Bowling, 69, of Freeport. Services were held Sunday.

Sherri J. Frye Lyrock, 37 of Dayton. Services were Saturday.

-VOLUME 17 NO. 152, FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2001-

According to Dayton ISD Superintendent Nancy Fuller, plans have been set in motion to offer Beaumont's Lamar University Junior and Senior Level College Classes at Dayton campuses. With Lee College in Baytown offering freshman and sophomore level classes at both Dayton and Liberty campuses, the result would allow a student to receive their bachelor's degree without leaving South Liberty County. Mrs. Fuller said the plan is still in its early stages, with the focus on finding certified teachers, but hopes to have those classes underway by January of next year.

The Baytown Sun Newspaper reported yesterday that the murder trial of Larry Larnail Gray, 49, of Baytown has been postponed indefinitely due to enormous court backlogs in Harris County in the wake of Tropical Storm Allison. Gray is charged with 1st degree murder in the shooting death of 29 year old Shannon Pitre on September 4th, just a few hours after the death of Pitre's stepfather and Gray's brother, Pastor Fred Gray of a heart-attack at the Agape Praise Center in Dayton. Court officials said storm damage has caused such an overcrowding in available courtrooms, that no jury trials are being held at this time.

The Liberty Dixie League Belles Softball Team captured the State Championship in Livingston Wednesday with an 8 to 5 victory over undefeated Hopkins County. According to Coach Bobby Rader, The Liberty Girls clinched the 13-15 year old fast pitch title the hard way, opening tournament with a loss last weekend. However, straight wins led the team all the way to the title and will now take them to the Dixie Belles National Tournament in Crossville, Tennessee on August 4th.

Family members report that 71 year old Joe Clarence Fregia has been released from St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont since Tuesday and is now resting well at home. A dramatic rescue by EMS personnel and a local wrecker service managed to free the Ames man from beneath an overturned tractor on Thursday July 19th. Mr. Fregia was trapped under the tractor upside down below a steep embankment, for over an hour and was transported to the Beaumont hospital in critical but stable condition.

7/27 Funeral: Marion Eloise Zimmer, 77, of Dayton, Services at 2pm tomorrow at Calvary Baptist Church in Dayton.

-VOLUME 17 NO. 151, THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2001-

Dayton Police report 59-year-old Price Calhoun White was northbound on Winfree in Dayton Tuesday morning when his car began to swerve, striking a telephone pole and two parked vehicles before coming to a stop in front of Rodger’s Pharmacy. Police said the Dayton man might have suffered a heart attack. Precinct#4 J.P. Glenn Pruitt pronounced Price Calhoun White dead at the accident scene and ordered an autopsy performed.

Carmen McGahan, 49, of Cleveland was found late yesterday morning injured but safe in the high grasses beneath a bridge on Hwy 105 in the Moss Hill area after being missing for two days. The woman had been walking alone in the dark Monday night when she apparently fell from the bridge, dropping some 20 feet to the ground. Ms. McGahan spent the intervening time unable to walk from the fall, without food, water or protection from the elements until her discovery by a small search party of worried friends. Carmen McGahn was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont by air ambulance, her most serious injuries are thought to be severe sunburn and a possible fractured pelvis.

District #4 State Senator David Bernsen said the senatorial redistricting plan approved by the Legislative Redistricting Board in Austin on Tuesday would break up what has been traditionally known as Southeast Texas. Bernsen called the plan, put forth by Texas Land Commissioner David Dewhurst, patently unfair since it dilutes minority voting-strength and disrespects long-held Texas traditions of bi-partisanship. Senator Bernsen vowed the plan would be challenged in federal court.

The Liberty School Board met again Tuesday night with members of the BLGY Architectural Firm of Austin about the question of constructing a new Liberty High School. One aspect of the proposed construction discussed is the possibility of a new gymnasium large enough to hold at least 2,000 people for graduations and other ceremonies. The price tag on such a gym was estimated to range between $850,000 and $950,000.

7/26 FUNERALS: Price White, 59, of Dayton, Services at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton.

Carl Land, 82, of Anahuac, Graveside services at 10 a.m. Monday at Eminence Cemetery in Anahuac

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.78 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO. 150, WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2001-

With only two Liberty County Commissioners able to be present at yesterday’s meeting, action was tabled on the question of hiring local attorney Richard Baker to assist the county with a lawsuit filed by Odis Briggs. Briggs, who has been confined in the Liberty County Jail for more than 3 years for contempt of court is filing suit against Sheriff Greg Arthur, Corrections Corporation of America and Jail Warden Robert Lacy for what he claims is unlawful imprisonment. Baker is the attorney representing the McGahey Trust, which Briggs is alleged to have defrauded for $150,000. It is Briggs’ reported refusal to produce documents in that court action that led to his incarceration.

Liberty’s War Memorial Stadium has seen roughly $230,000 in improvements and renovations this summer, more than in the stadium’s 55-year history. LISD Assistant Superintendent Tommy Davis said the improvements include full-handicapped access to seats and restrooms, enlarging both men’s and women’s restrooms and a new scoreboard to be delivered soon.

The Dayton City Council met in workshop session Monday night to look over the first proposed draft of next fiscal year’s budget from City Manager Robert Ewart. That proposal includes a 3% pay increase for all city employees. Dayton Police Chief Buddy Bean told council he had hoped for a slightly larger raise for his officers, but the raise proposed was satisfactory.

Mt. Belvieu Police said a person or persons unknown did extensive damage at the city’s Cherry Point Park by driving a vehicle through several fences late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Police said the suspect vehicle is possibly a Ford truck, likely with front-end damage from smashing into the park fences. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Mt. Belvieu Police at 281-576-2417.

Elmer Joe Moore, 68, of Dayton, Services at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton.

James Howard Reily, 39, of Daisetta, Private services to be held at a later date.

Flora Lee Mitchell, 78, of Dayton, Services at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton

Eugene Truman Jensen, 79, of Anahuac, Services at 2 p.m. today at 1^st United Methodist Church in Anahauc.

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.80 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO. 149, TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2001-

According to TxDot’s Marc Shepherd, all highway signs in Liberty and Chambers Counties change on May 1^st, 2002 as speed limits on those thoroughfares will be reduced to 55 mph. The slower speed limits are part of the federally mandated effort to reduce vehicle emissions in the Houston and Galveston area. State Representative Zeb Zbranek said it is his hope that in eliminating the grandfather clause, which allowed many industrial facilities to release toxic emissions unchecked, in the last legislature, this area can show enough improvement in air quality to be exempt from the state implemented plan.

Officials at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont report that Joe Clarence Fregia continues to improve after the dramatic rescue last Thursday that freed him from beneath an overturned tractor, where he had been pinned for over an hour. The 71-year-old Ames man was taken by air ambulance to the Beaumont hospital in critical but stable condition after the accident but has now reportedly been moved from intensive care to a private room

Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge Manager Stuart Marcus said 1,060 acres of land near the Trinity River, some located within the Liberty City Limits has been purchased by the refuge. The purchase of the additional acreage enlarges the refuge to a total of more than 12,000 acres. The new acquisition contains land on the eastside of the Trinity River to a mostly-wooded area behind the Travis Park Subdivision, with the Liberty levee marking out a portion of the boundary. Marcus said the new refuge land would be used in the future for fishing and birding.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Candidate John Sharp will be speaking in Cleveland tomorrow at 8 a.m. at the Cleveland City Hall. The public is invited to come and ask questions of the candidate. Sharp, the former-State Comptroller has made one previous bid for the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, losing that race to current Texas Governor Rick Perry.

7/24 FUNERALS: Agnes Brandli, 84, of Minnesota, Services at 10: 30 a.m. today at the Union Congregational Church in Minnesota.

Rennie V. Gardner, 98, of Liberty, Services at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Allison Funeral Service in Liberty.

Jose Gerardo Lopez, 44, of Liberty, Services held Monday.

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.67 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO. 147, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2001-

The search for 50-year-old John Randle "Randy" Jones ended Wednesday night, when he was discovered in a dog kennel run in the backyard of his Ridgewood Subdivision home, dead of a single self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Liberty man had been reported missing and Liberty Police had led a search of the wooded area nearby in hopes of locating him. The man’s wife, Carol Marks Jones had told police her husband had a long history of epileptic seizures and was very despondent at the time of his disappearance. It was the couple’s dog that led Mrs. Jones to her husband’s body late Wednesday night.

Joe Clarence Fregia, 71 is reported to be in critical but stable condition at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont following a dramatic rescue yesterday that freed him from beneath an overturned tractor. Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy Henry Tyson said the Ames man was mowing a steep embankment off CR# 158 in West Ames, when the tractor slid down the hill and rolled over in a ditch. Mr. Fregia was pinned between the soft, wet ground and the tractor. It took delicate work by a Mosely’s wrecker service driver to lift the tractor enough to free the man for air ambulance transport to the Beaumont hospital.

The Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce has hired Carole Taylor as the organization’s new president. It has been almost 6 months since former Chamber President Gary Underwood resigned to accept a position with Time-Warner Cable and Ms. Taylor officially begins work on August 1^st. Search Committee member Bruce Stratton said he feels Carole Taylor, who is originally from the Orange area, is a good choice to help bring lots of economic development to the area.

With Liberty County Commissioners preparing to review a 7^th proposed redistricting plan, Chambers County approved their one and only redistricting plan last week. The plan calls for all of Hankamer to join Winnie in Precinct #1, moves Cove from Precinct #4 to Precinct #3 and Wallisville moves from Precinct #3 to Precinct #2. Chambers County Commissioners will now send the plan to the U.S. Justice Dept. for final approval.

7/20 FUNERAL: John Detiege, 64, of Dayton, Services at 3 p.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dayton.

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.89 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO.146, THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2001-

Police said John Randall "Randy" Jones, 50, of Liberty suffers from epilepsy and was very distraught when he left his home in the Ridgewood Subdivision Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Jones has not been seen since and the fears of family for his safety led police and volunteers to spend hours scouring the wooded areas surrounding the Ridgewood Grocery for his whereabouts. No sign of the missing man was found by late yesterday and the search is expected to resume today. Randy Jones is a white male, 5 ‘, 5 " weighing 190 pounds with brown hair and eyes, last seen wearing a white t-shirt and shorts and gray tennis shoes. Anyone with information is asked to call Liberty Police at 336-5666.

Austin attorney Tom Pollan reports examination of the Draft 2B Redistricting Plan drawn up by citizens unhappy with those plans presented by Liberty County Commissioners shows the proposal does not meet guidelines laid down for a map the federal government is likely to approve. Pollan said the largest problems are the dramatic changes it proposes in populations and the constituent-incumbent representation of all four precincts. Pollan said he and his staff have drawn up yet another map that attempts to follow the same ideas as the Draft 2B Plan.

Associate Superintendent Jack Caraway informed Dayton School Trustees Tuesday night that newly-certified values from the Liberty County Central Appraisal District show the Dayton ISD with a projected overall taxable value of $703 million. Carraway said using an approximate tax rate of $1.50, the increase would mean around $705,000 in additional revenue.

The 12^th Annual Burnham Classic Golf Tournament benefiting the South Liberty County State Center for mentally and emotionally disturbed children is set for August 3^rd through August 5^th at the Magnolia Ridge Country Club in Liberty. Event Coordinator Bruce Burnham said the entry fee for each four-person team is $350 and both $200 and $80 sponsorships are also available. For more information call 336-3551.

7/19 FUNERALS: John Marshall Walton, Jr., 63, of Baytown, Services at 10:30 a.m. today at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton.

Louise Hicks, 71, of New Caney, Servicesat 11 a.m. tomorrow at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. **

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.93 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO.145, WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2001-

Once again, local retailers are getting ready for the annual sales tax holiday. According to information from the office of State Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander, most clothing items will be exempt from state and local sales tax for the three-day period between Friday August 3^rd and Sunday August 5^th. As in the past two years, virtually all clothes, shoes and boots, including baby clothes and work uniforms will be tax exempt. Items that remain taxable include accessories such as jewelry, wallets and purses, as well as specialized sports wear like cleats and football pads.

Sempra Energy Resources made public the name and logo for the approximately $200 million power generating facility to be built west of Dayton on FM 1960. The logo for the Cedar Power Project, a circular yellow line symbolizing the agricultural community, was unveiled yesterday at the Dayton Chamber of Commerce Office. As a commitment to the Dayton Community, Sempra officials presented the Dayton Chamber with a $7,500 donation for the organization’s first annual golf tournament.

The Dayton City Council voted unanimously Monday night to raise the price of garbage collection to customers in the city. Under the new rates, Dayton homeowners will see a 23% increase in the cost of garbage pick up, from $9.35 to $11.50 per month. Rates for Dayton businesses will vary depending upon the size and number of dumpsters, but will increase overall by 27%. The city’s new contract with Waste Management of Houston for garbage service remains unapproved as City Attorney Neal Iverson continues to review that agreement.

Again this year, the City of Liberty is playing host to the State Dixie League Baseball Semi-finals for boys ages 9 and 10. For the first time this year, the Ponytail League girls ages 11 and 12 will also be competing. Double elimination tournament play begins this Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Liberty City Park and the tournament could continue until Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Last year’s tournament brought between 2 and 3 thousand people and event organizers said with two divisions competing this year, it is expected that attendance could very well double.

7/18 FUNERAL: Carl Evan Vickery, 74, of Cleveland, Services at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Christian Life Center in Cleveland. **

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.71 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO.144, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2001-

Liberty County Sheriff’s Detective Don Neyland said Bill Manford Perry, 42, of Dayton was near a home in the Arondale Subdivision off FM 1413 around 4:30 p.m. yesterday and noticed a tire on the tractor he had rented was flat. Apparently Mr. Perry had been trying to air up the tire when the tractor’s automatic loading arm was activated, crushing him against the tractor frame. Precinct #4 J.P. Glenn Pruitt pronounced Bill Manford Perry dead at the scene, ruling his death as accidental

According to information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Beaumont, 77-year-old Cleveland Pharmacist Leonard Eugene Spykerman pled guilty yesterday in federal court to one count of dispensing drugs without a prescription. An investigation by the Cleveland Police Department, the Texas Board of Pharmacies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration indicates the owner/operator of Gene’s Pharmacy in Cleveland illegally dispensed Vicodin and Xanax, both controlled substances without prescriptions in September of last year. U.S. District Judge Richard Schell who heard the Cleveland man’s guilty plea has not yet set a sentencing date, but Spykerman now faces a maximum 12 months in prison and a $100,000 fine.

According to the latest report from the office of State Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander, Sales and Use Taxes through the month of June for Liberty County totaled more than $2.5 million dollars, an increase of 11.32% over totals for the same period last year. For the year to date, the City of Liberty has received 10.5 % more in sales tax rebates than this time last year with last month’s totals just over $166,000. The City of Dayton’s tax rebates through June show a 6.98% increase over the year 2000 totals. In the City of Cleveland, tax rebates through last month have risen 7.31% over last year.

The Dayton Historical Commission will sponsor a live auction on Thursday August 2^nd to raise the necessary funds to preserve and restore the "Old School Building" on Houston Street in Dayton. The auction will begin at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on both LDTV Channel 99 and KSHN Radio. Viewers and listeners can call in their bids on a variety of merchandise donated by local merchants until that item is sold. Proceeds will be used to first replace the historic building’s roof.

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.88 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO.143, MONDAY, JULY 16, 2001-

According to DEA Agent Robert Mansau, a routine helicopter flyover on July 6^th, unturned a rather large field of marijuana plants near the city limits of Dayton Lake Estates. The DEA along with the DPS Narcotics task force reported they found approximately 500 marijuana plants, some of which were up to 6 feet in height. Agent Mansau said the owner of the land is not believed to have been aware of the plants existence, and currently there are no suspects, and no arrests have been made, Agent Mansau said the value of the plants is approximately $1 million.

Following several days at the UTMB Hospital in Galveston, Anthony West, 16 of Hardin, was released on Friday. He had been taken to the hospital by Lifeflight Air Ambulance followint an accident he and his 2 brothers, Kyle and Drew had suffered at their home on Tuesday of last week. Kyle and Drew West suffered minor cuts and were treated and released from the hospital that evening. Anthony West suffers from hemophilia, a blood condition, and he had lost a lot of blood. Family members report that he is now at home. However he is still being monitored closely.

According to Precinct #4 Road Maintencance Supervisor Lester Ray Wisegerber, paving will begin today on Old Cleveland Road just north of Dayton on Highway 321. The southern portion of road will be paved today and at a later date, the northern portion will be chipped and sealed. A paving machine has been there since Friday, so work can begin today. Old Cleveland Road has reportedly been one of the worst conditioned roads in Precinct #4. Lester Ray Wisegerber said he has done a traffic count, and that is how the decision will be made over the order to repair the roads.

Sempra Energy Resources and the Dayton Chamber of Commerce will hold an unveiling of the logo and name of Sempra's new electrical generating plant in Dayton. The event will be held tomorrow at 2pm at the Dayton Chamber of Commerce office on Bryan Street. The San Diego based electric company will be building a $200 million dollar facility 6 miles west of Dayton on FM 1960. Building is proposed to begin in early 2002, with estimated completion being in 2004.

-VOLUME 17 NO.142, FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2001-

Both redistricting plans released this week by the Legislative Redistricting Board in Austin propose putting Liberty and Chambers Counties in separate representative districts. One plan, drawn up by House Speaker Pete Laney puts all of Liberty and Hardin Counties in a new district with portions of Montgomery County and places Chambers County with most of Jefferson County. The second plan, proposed by Attorney General John Cornyn has Liberty and Polk Counties in one district, Chambers and most of Galveston County in another. Following the board’s approval of a final plan, it is expected that several parties will be launching lawsuits against any redistricting plan adopted.

Two of the three youngsters injured Tuesday in an accident at their home are reportedly doing well but the third remains in serious condition at UTMB in Galveston. Kyle and Drew West of Hardin were treated for minor cuts and released from Liberty-Dayton Hospital after they and their older brother Anthony crashed through a plate glass patio door while playing. 16-year-old Anthony West suffers from hemophilia, a condition that prevents coagulation of the blood and hampers the treatment of bleeding injury. The teen was taken by Lifeflight air ambulance to the Galveston Hospital following the accident Tuesday.

A month after Tropical Storm Allison the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration report more than $272 million dollars in flood relief has been provided to Southeast Texas. Scott Wells, Coordinating Officer for the Recovery effort said there are still residents in Liberty County who are eligible for benefits, but who have not yet applied. The deadline for submitting those applications is August 8^th. To apply for financial assistance, call FEMA at 800-462-9029 Incident # DR-1379. For disaster unemployment assistance call the Texas Workforce Commission at 800-939-6631.

Tomorrow marks the return of the La Bahia Market to the Courthouse Square in downtown Liberty. The popular monthly event sponsored by the Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce was cancelled last month due to bad weather, but returns tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with handmade and homegrown items, antiques and more from local vendors. For more information, call the Chamber at 336-5736.

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.94 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO.141, THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2001-

The Legislative Review Board released three proposed Senate redistricting plans this week. Lt. Governor Bill Ratliff’s plan would place Liberty, Chambers, Hardin, Jefferson, Orange, Polk, Newton, and Jasper Counties in District #4 with portions of Montgomery and Galveston Counties with David Bernsen as the incumbent senator. Land Commissioner David Dewhurst’s plan is virtually the same except for the addition of Sabine County in place of a portion of Galveston County. However State Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander’s proposal calls for Liberty County to be placed in a new district without an incumbent senator and Chambers County moved to a separate district.

A segment, which aired on Houston’s KTRK TV news Tuesday night, reported that the small-incorporated city of Dayton Lake Estates has voted to dissolve their police force of one full-time officer and several volunteer reserve officers. One of the officers, Bill Marks, said the move was retaliation by the council for the recent arrest of Dayton Lake Estates council member Michael Allen Wedgeworth for drug possession and interfering with police officers. Dayton Lake Estates Mayor David Murphy denied that allegation and said the elimination of the small police department was done purely for financial reasons.

The Liberty ISD Board of Trustees met in workshop session Tuesday night and heard from Britton Barr from the Austin architectural firm of BLGY about the proposed design plan for a new $16.9 million high school. The proposed plan outlines a new 115,849 square foot high school just west of and connected to the current Liberty High School. The building plan includes a gym, cafeteria and a stage for UIL competitions. Trustees now need to consider whether or not to approve the bond election that would be necessary to build the new school.

The Chambers County Grand Jury has been seated for over a month, but there are still no new developments in the case of Vernon Coates of Anahauc, charged with attempting to murder a Chambers County Sheriff’s Deputy. We have reported the allegations of racial profiling and police misconduct surrounding this case and Coates’ attorney Ed Leick said he has reason to believe the grand jury is not even hearing the case. The previous grand jury adjourned without any decision on the charges.

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.98 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO.140, WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2001-

One of the legends of the Liberty business community, L.Q. "Bubba" Vandenter died Monday night of what investigators said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The 76-year-old Vandeventer was pronounced dead at 7:56 p.m. as EMT’s called to his home in Liberty were attempting to stabilize him for transport by Med-Link air ambulance. Mr. Vandeventer had been in the real estate business here for decades, but reportedly had suffered from emphysema for many years and had become increasingly despondent over his failing health.

Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy Kenny Dagle said three Hardin youngsters were injured yesterday afternoon when they crashed through a plate glass patio door at their home while playing. The three brothers’ names were not available. Liberty County EMS Director Mike Koen said the oldest boy suffered multiple serious cuts from the shattered glass and had lost a lot of blood. The teen was taken by Lifeflight air ambulance to the UTMB in Galveston while his two brothers were taken to Liberty-Dayton Hospital with injuries that were not thought to be as serious.

The Annual Liberty Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Barbecue and Auction is tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at the Liberty VFW Hall. The popular event features the Liberty-Dayton 500 drawing for prizes that include a 50-inch big screen TV, a DVD player, camcorder and much more. There will also be live and silent auctions and lots of entertainment. BBQ tickets are still available at the Chamber Office on Trinity St. or call 336-5736.

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center will have a blood drive tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1^st Liberty National Bank. Donations at this drive can be designated to replace blood used by 18-year-old Carl Lauersdorf of Tarkington who died Saturday of injuries sustained in a car accident. For more information, call Volunteer Coordinator Dorothy Nettles at 298-2986.

7/11 FUNERALS:

L.Q. "Bubba" VanDeventer, 76, Services at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Liberty.

Joyce Merlene King, 66, of Liberty, Graveside services at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Cooke Memorial Cemetery in Liberty.

Bernice A. Brown, 86, of Dayton, Services at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Sterling Funeral Home in Dayton.

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 7.12 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO.139, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2001-

Liberty County Sheriff Greg Arthur said an investigation is ongoing into what caused the death of a 24-year-old Saratoga man whose body was discovered on Hwy 146 north of Rye. Douglas Ray Nance reportedly left the "Full House Club" in Rye on foot early yesterday morning and was discovered dead in the roadway just before 4 a.m. Sheriff Arthur said the man’s body showed signs of having been struck at least once by a motor vehicle, but with preliminary autopsy results still pending from the Jefferson County Medical Examiners Office, there is no way to confirm whether or not that impact actually caused his death.

DPS Trooper Leon Wilson said 41-year-old David Newton of League City was northbound on Hwy 146 about a mile south of Hwy 90 early Monday when he apparently fell asleep and drifted into the southbound lane. There his vehicle struck an 18-wheel truck driven by Larry Thrift, also 41 of Mississippi, knocking the trailer completely away from the truck. David Newton was taken by Lifeflight air ambulance to the UTMB in Galveston in what was described as serious, but stable condition. A special trailer tow truck was used to clear the wreckage and traffic was closed in both directions for approximately an hour.

According to members of the Bakta family of Houston, their new 34-unit Luxury Inn and Suites Motel will be accepting guests in about 10 days. Located on Hwy 90 at the 146 Bypass in Liberty next door to BJ Ford-Mercury, the motel will be the largest of the 8 facilities the Baktas own and operate and includes a coffee and breakfast bar, swimming pool, and a meeting room that will seat approximately 40 people. Room rates will range from $55 to $75 per night.

Beginning August 1^st, Time-Warner Cable subscribers in the Liberty-Dayton Area will be getting a new channel. Time-Warner’s Public Affairs Manager Gary Underwood said ESPN-2, offering more and different sports coverage, will be an additional channel and no channels currently offered will be affected. Underwood said Time-Warner is planning an update of the area cable system and will be adding more channels soon.

7/10 FUNERAL: Harrel R. Stephens, 94, of Dayton, Services at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton.

**LAKE RELEASE: 2,050 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 7.13 ASL**

VOLUME 17 NO. 129 MONDAY JULY 9, 2001

5 people were hospitalized Sunday afternoon after a wreck in West Woodland Hills, north of Dayton. DPS Trooper Brett Henry said 23 year old Pauline Curry Salas was west bound on CR 6763 just after 5pm yesterday when he believes she fell asleep, driving into a roadside ditch and striking a culvert. Mrs. Salas and four children were reomved from the wreckage by extrication devices. Westlake EMS and Liberty Co. EMS transported all five to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, in stable but critical condition. Those hurt are Driver: Pauline Curry Salas 23, Passengers: Adrian Curry 13, Fernando Martinez 5, Gabriel Martinez 3, and Brittany Salas 1. All are from the Dayton area.

A week after a two-car wrech claimed the life of a Hull woman the other victim died from injuries suffered in the same wreck. Carl Lauresdorf of Tarkington Prairie passed away Saturday at the age of 18. The accident happened July 1^st on State Highway 105 West of Moss Hill when Deborah Kay Dudley 52 of Hull and Carl Lauresdorf collided. Mrs. Dudley was dead at the scene but Lauerdorf collided.

A much loved Liberty businesswoman died Saturday. Carolyn Mettlen, 50 operated a print shop called Printed Impressions for several years. She died in the Hospice ward of Liberty-Dayton Hospital. She was a past member of Devers City Council, and the Liberty Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce board. After her business closed, she worked at the Vindicator and then for the County Auditor's office.

The Liberty Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Liberty Dayton 500, auction, bbq and raffle this Thursday at the VFW Hall in Liberty. Raffle tickets are $20 apiece and the grand prize of 12, is a big screen Toshiba TV. Contact the Liberty Dayton area Chamber at 336-5736 or any director.

7/9 Funerals: Carolyn Mettlen 50, of Devers, Services Tues 2pm at Allisons Funeral Home, Liberty

Carl Hutton Lauderdorf 18, Tarkington, Services Wed 2pm at 1^st Baptist Church Cleveland

Zelma Killingsworth 80, Today 10am at Allison's Funeral Home, Liberty

Alexander Sheppard, 51, Houston, Today 11am at Houston National Cemetery

4^th of July fireworks resulted in the destruction of a home in the Moss Bluff area Wednesday night. John Wayne Hardin of the Moss Bluff Volunteer Fire Department said the fire began around 10:30 p.m. when a roman candle ignited a lawnmower stored under the manufactured home owned by the Kaderli family on CR# 126 south of Moss Bluff. The fire did sufficient damage to the home for the family of four to take fire officials advice to stay elsewhere for the night. Later, Forest Kaderli returned from a trip to the grocery store to find the fire had rekindled, this time destroying the home and everything in it. It is not known if any of the losses were insured.

Diane Huddleston, the vice-president and branch manager of what once was Bayshore National Bank in Liberty said the paperwork has been finalized and the financial institution will now be known as Southtrust Bank. We reported some time ago that Southtrust Corporation had purchased Bayshore Bancshares Inc. adding the 10 Bayshore locations in Texas to the regional holding companies’ more than 163 banking offices in nine states. The Bayshore acquisition will, reportedly, double the $44.3 billion corporation’s presence in Texas.

-VOLUME 17 NO.127, THURSDAY, JULY 05, 2001-

The Department of Public Safety Reports a traffic stop on I-10 in Chambers County early yesterday morning led to the arrest of 23-year-old Juan Gallegos of Houston on drug charges and the seizure of what is believed to be 111 pounds of cocaine. It was DPS Trooper Michael Neal who reportedly pulled over the 18-wheeler Gallegos was driving, finding two luggage bags full of the substance in the truck’s cargo area. The street value of the drugs is estimated at more than three-quarters-of-a-million dollars. Juan Gallegos is currently being held in the Chambers County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

Liberty County Commissioners met Tuesday and accepted the oath of office of Charles Martin as Precinct #4 Constable. Martin was appointed to replace Craig Houghton, who resigned following his arrest for illegal wiretapping last month. Houghton has pled guilty to and currently awaits sentencing on that charge, facing up to 5 years in federal prison and $250,000 fine. Charles Martin will hold the office until the next scheduled election.

The Dayton City Council received a report Monday night from Barbara Bunn of Tri-County Transportation about plans to establish a bus service for Liberty, Chambers and Eastern Harris Counties. The proposed service would provide transportation for people wishing to travel outside this area including the UTMB in Galveston. Council was provided with initial information about the company’s plans Monday night while council’s formal support for the service will be sought at later time.

7/4 FUNERALS: Allen Lionel Davis, 73, of Liberty, Services at 10 a.m. today at Allison Funeral Service in Liberty. * Emma Mozelle Pilcher, 86, of Liberty, Graveside Services at 1 p.m. today at Cooke Memorial Cemetery in Liberty. * Deborah Kay Dudley, 52, of Hull, Services at 4 p.m. today at Allison Funeral Service. * Jane R. Blanchard Fondon, 55, of Liberty, Services at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Light Catholic Church in Anahuac. * Cecil Leon Arnold, 55, of Arkansas, Services at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. * Betty Jo Robinett, 64, of Raywood, Services at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. * Tracy Annette Olsen Cerce, 32, of Mont. Belvieu, Services at 2 p.m. Saturday at Connally-Compton Funeral Home in Waco, Texas. **

**LAKE RELEASE: 1,420 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.95 ASL**

-VOLUME 17 NO.126, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2001-

Information from Southwest Memorial Hospital in Houston indicates 18-year-old Carl Lauersdorf of Cleveland has been upgraded to fair condition after a two-vehicle accident on Hwy 105 west of Moss Hill Sunday that claimed the life of Deborah Dudley of Hull. DPS Trooper Stephen Hebert said that further investigation has determined that the Hull woman was actually eastbound, but crossed over into the westbound lane and the vehicles collided while attempting evasive action. Initial reports were that the two drivers’ positions had been reversed.

According to Liberty County Sheriff Greg Arthur, two men arrested on auto theft charges in Baytown on June 23^rd could be linked to as many as 40 robberies and burglaries in Liberty County. Terry Duff, 31, and Grady LeBlanc, 44, are now in custody in the Harris County Jail after allegedly stealing a car from a Baytown dealership and it has been discovered the pair have 4 outstanding arrest warrants for stealing lawn equipment in Liberty County. We have reported a rash of such thefts in the area and the two are considered suspects in many other cases.

The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge’s Nancy Brown reports approximately 12 hundred acres of marshland have burned since three lightning strikes on Sunday set fire to one portion of refuge. No structures were affected by the blaze and it is expected the fire will be completely under control today. Some areas of the refuge have been closed due to heavy smoke, including the East Bay and Westline Road Boat Ramps.

The Liberty County Courthouse and all municipal offices in Liberty and Dayton will be closed tomorrow in observance of the Independence Day Holiday. There will be no garbage pick up in either city tomorrow and Brazos Transit Buses will not be running. All post offices and banks will also be closed. Offices will reopen for regular hours on Thursday.

7/2 FUNERALS: Naomi J. Mifflin Ripkowski, 75, of Dayton, Services at 11 a.m. today at Sterling Funeral Home in Dayton.

Beatrice West, 89, of Hardin, Services at 11 a.m. Thursday at Olive Bethel Baptist Church in Hardin.

Scarlett Smith, 40, of Kenefick, Memorial Service Monday July 9^th at the River Front Park in Dayton Lake Estates. **

**LAKE RELEASE: 1,420 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.92 ASL**