News Stories

U.S. Forest Service to conduct controlled burns for forest health

HOUSTON COUNTY - U.S. Forest Service fire personnel have begun controlled burns in the national forests and will continue the burns during the next few months. “Folks may see a helicopter overhead, smoke columns rising, additional traffic along Forest Service roads, and smoke settling in low lying areas at night,” according to Assistant Fire Management Officer Fritz Mueller. Residents also may notice more smoke than usual because downed trees, branches and other debris left in the wake of Hurricane Ike is still on the forest floor. This debris is being consumed by the controlled burning, reducing the fuel loading but increasing smoke. The fires also reduce the height of shrubs and bring new plant growth back down within the reach of foraging deer.

If left alone, the accumulation of pine litter, branches and downed logs could lead to catastrophic wildfires. “We want communities to know what we’re doing when we conduct prescribed burns on the national forests. Our prescribed burns are controlled fires conducted by experienced, qualified personnel who work as a team to ignite, monitor and ensure that the fire stays within the control lines,” he said.

The Forest Service conducts prescribed burning only when weather conditions are most favorable and are based on daily forecasts from the National Weather Service. Forest Service fire personnel take into account weather conditions and fire behavior before conducting a burn.

“Anytime there is a fire, there is going to be smoke associated with it,” Mueller said. “When there are low-lying concentrations of drift smoke, visibility may be reduced. Also, for those who have respiratory problems, we recommend they close windows and ventilate their homes by using the air conditioning or heating system. Some may want to leave the area until the smoke clears.” If drivers encounter smoke on the road, they should reduce their speed and use their low beam lights to become more visible to other traffic. In some areas, Forest Service fire personnel visit property owners living closest to the burn areas to explain safety procedures and the benefits of prescribed fire.

“The bottom line is that smoke is a short term inconvenience that results in a long term gain by benefitting wildlife, creating healthy forest conditions and protecting homes from destructive wildfires,” he said. For questions about the controlled fire program, contact Assistant Fire Management Officer Fritz Mueller in Lufkin at 639-8543.

Courier introduces new features

The Courier has two new features that readers are sure to enjoy. The cartoon Today’s Dogg, by Guy Gilchrist, will appear weekly in the Thursday edition. The new Agriculture page will be featured the last Thursday of each month. Agriculture news and information can be sent to News@HoustonCountyCourier.com.

Two men arrested in East Texas church arsons

SMITH COUNTY - Authorities have charged and arrested two men in connection with one of the 10 church arson fires that occurred in East Texas begin-ning on Jan. 1. Three other churches were targets of attempted break-ins, and investigators believe those and the remaining nine burned churches are also connected to these men. The investigations are ongoing.

The two men arrested are Ja-son Robert Bourque, 19, of Lindale and Daniel George McAllister, 21, of Ben Wheeler. They had attended the First Baptist Church in Ben Wheeler together. Bourque was arrested with-out incident in Van Zandt County and transported to Smith County and McAllister was arrested without incident by Texas Rangers in San An-tonio and also transported to Smith County.

"By working closely with our local and federal partners, we brought tremendous resources to this investigation, working around the clock, and culminating in these arrests. The arsons of these houses of worship were despicable and cowardly acts, and Texas won't stand for this kind of criminal activity," said Steven C. McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. "Clearly this effort shows that Texas law enforcement has mastered the art and science of working together, sharing information, and dedicating the necessary resources to bring cases such as these to a successful resolution, and these officers are to be commended," McCraw said.

The men were arrested by the task force created to find these individuals and stop these arsons. The task force includes hundreds of local law en-forcement officers, more than 200 personnel from the DPS, including Texas Rangers, Highway Patrol troopers and Criminal Investigation Division agents, fixed-wing and helicopter aviation assets and the DPS Communications and Fusion Centers, and numerous FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents and specialists.

A call to a task force tip line alerted investigators to the two men. Agencies involved in the ar-rests included the DPS; FBI; ATF; Tyler Police Depart-ment, Henderson County Sheriff's Office and Fire Department; Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office and Fire Department; Wills Point Police Department; Smith County Sheriff's Office, Fire Department and Fire Marshal's Office; Athens Police Department; and the Canton Police Department. The task force was formed on Jan. 20, and investigators worked cases in a three-county area covering 2,648 square miles and an estimated 713 churches.

Investigators from numerous agencies worked together to develop leads, and local agen-cies assisted with nightly pa-trols of churches in the area to prevent additional arsons.

Dates and locations of arsons:

* 01-01-2010, 9:02 a.m. - Little Hope Baptist Church Canton;

* 01-01-2010, 11:05 a.m. - Faith Baptist Church, Athens;

* 01-11-2010, 10:40 p.m. - Grace Community Church, Athens;

* 01-12-2010, 12:09 a.m. - Lake Athens Baptist Church, Athens;

* 01-16-2010, 6:30 p.m. - Tyland Baptist Church, Tyler;

* 01-17-2010, 6:33 p.m. - First Church of Christ Scien-tist, Tyler;

* 01-20-2010, 7:37 a.m. - Prairie Creek Fellowship, Lin-dale;

* 02-04-2010, 5:23 a.m. - Russell Memorial United Methodist Church, Wills Point;

* 02-08-2010, 8:47 p.m. - Dover Baptist Church, Tyler;

* 02-08-2010, 9:44 p.m. - Clear Springs Missionary Baptist Church, Lindale.

In addition to the arsons at the above listed churches, there were attempted break-ins at the following churches:

* 02-07-2010, 12:19 a.m., Heritage Baptist Church Tyler;

* 02-08-2010, 9:19 p.m., Clear View Baptist Church, Tyler;

* 02-08-2010, 9:39 p.m., Pine Brook Baptist Church, Tyler.

Black History Month; highlighting Houston County

Through this article I would like to focus somewhat on those African-American cowboys, ministers, businessmen and politicians who because of their efforts helped us to make progress as a group and as individuals. Many made great sacrifices in order to survive in their own rights and serve as mentors and help guide others toward becoming decent, hard-working people.

I appreciate what they meant to me during my formative years as well as their many contributions to our city and county. I shall begin with our cowboys and move out to others. Many black cowboys from this area did not go on to gain the level of recognition as did Myrtis Dightman of international bull-riding fame. They remained behind working and servicing the large ranching and farming operations for which our area was known and became known all over for their skills as cowboys and ranch-hands on the many farms and ranches populating our area at that time in our history.

Working cattle and performing at rodeos are some I remember as a youngster growing up at the time. The names of many of these gentlemen became very familiar to many of us during our earlier years. Some of them were Jesse McKnight, Carl Mitchell, Pod Riley, Hubbard Burns, Dirt Stewart, Junior Morgan, L. D. Patton, Cuney Murphy and W.F. “Red” Kitchen. Many of these early cowboys were restricted to individual farms and ranches, but W.F. “Red” Kitchen was able to transfer his skills beyond this immediate area by being the first Black cowboy to “mechanize” his operations by purchasing a truck and trailer.

This allowed him to move his horses and other needed equipment to other locales, which had been inaccessible up to that point. The scope and value of his enterprises increased due to this greater mobility. In addition to becoming a successful rancher, he became a valued resource to upcoming cowboys as well as engaging in the political, religious, and educational life of our community. Still he is engaged in activities designed to uplift the life our city and other communities. Another group of gentlemen who held sway over our young lives were our church pastors and other ministers. On a Sunday morning, one would find scores of young people Walking in the directions of their respective churches. On the north-end of town, young people made their way to Bethel Baptist Church, including myself. Here the Reverend W.D. Dowe held religious court. A tall and impressive person, he was successful in convincing us that hell would be our home if we didn’t get it right with Jesus.

Other great ministers of these times were just as successful with the same type messages as preached by my pastor at Bethel. We had Reverends Simpson and Groves of St. Luke and Reverend Batts at St. Paul. Elder Brown was pastor at Brown Chapel in the 5th ward section of the city and Elder J.R Hampton of Hampton Memorial on the north side of town. These gentlemen’s religious teaching and training inspired us and instilled in us religious values, which dominate our lives to this very day. In the political arena, there were no active city or county black officeholders. Crockett gained its first black city councilman in the person of Elmer Murray from a newly created precinct, which came into being as a result of redistricting efforts led by the Reverend Harry Fred Scott. Upon the death of the sitting mayor at that time, Murray ascended to the position of mayor becoming the first Black to occupy this position. Eventually, Reverend E.J Jones was elected to city council becoming the second black on city council. In other electoral firsts, Otis Wooten became the first black to serve as county commissioner. These “firsts” paved the way for others of our community to be elected to various other political offices and positions.

Last, Crockett was once home to a prosperous community of Black businesspersons. Very few visible signs of these businesses remain except in the minds of those of us who lived during those times. Each area of Crockett contained numerous and successful businesses. Better known as “Camp Street” it is now better known for the Lightning Hopkins statue and Camp Street Café and Store. On this street was found businesses including Jimmie Jackson’s Cleaners, Oscar McClendon’s Café, Nooks Café, Tom Randolph’s Pool Hall and Café and Cab Stand, Rhoder’s Beauty Salon, Elliott and Lillian Williams’s Jolly Joy Café and Antique Shop, Clewis’ Barber and Beauty Shop, Moore’s Shine Parlor.

Not far in the distance was McCullough’s and Woodley-Wheeler’s Mortuaries, Jackson’s Shoe Repair, Ard’s Cleaners, Mary Lou Jones, Katie Lamb and Beatrice Moore’s Beauty Shops. In the fifth ward section of Crockett, we found Jimmy Brown and Elsie Delaney’s convenience stores. Two kindergarten schools operated by Mrs. Sarah Gary and Brennette Davis, Van and Ellen Doyle’s Gay Paree, Mabel Langhrum’s housing rentals, Tom and Razee Randolph’s Paradise Inn, which was a nightclub. On the north end of town, we found, Arthur Hatch’s Bar-B-Cue, Burton’s Auto Repairs Hampton’s Washateria, Robbie Fields and Katy Dean’s Beauty Shop. On college hill, we had Veada Love’s Beauty Salon, Hollingsworth’s Tasty-Freeze Ice Cream Parlor and Zula Sstewart Daycare Center.

Additionally, large and successful black-owned farms and cattle ranches dotted the countryside of this area. All the above named individuals and institutions were influential in that they that they significantly impacted the life of our community. They helped in many ways to help build and sustain the political, economic, religious, social, intellectual and social foundations upon which our community, city and county currently rests. Last, but not least they served as role models in our young lives and served as examples for many of us to follow in our quests to become decent and productive citizens.

We salute those still living as well as those deceased this Black History Month. They will always be remembered in our hearts and minds as we reflect back on this once proud period in our lives and history as citizens of Crockett and Houston County. I would like to end by thanking the Courier and its’ editor for allowing me this and other space to contribute this and other previously printed articles in honor of Black History Month.

Men charged in cattle thefts

WOODVILLE – A Tyler County man was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 18 and charged with three counts of felony livestock theft. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Jimmy Belt along with Clint Sturrock, chief deputy for the Tyler County Sheriff's Department made the arrest.

Robert "Craig" Minton, Warren, reportedly stole 22 head of cattle and four horses on three occasions from the ranch where he worked as a foreman. He sold the cattle in late 2009, but the horses were recovered by investigators and returned to the victim. If convicted, Minton could face up to 30 years in prison, 10 years maximum for each count. "Cattle theft continues to be a big problem across Texas," said Belt. "Branding your cattle and registering that brand with the county and TSCRA is one of the best ways to not only prevent cattle theft, but also help recover your cattle if they are stolen."

Minton is the most recent case of cattle theft in East Texas. Last week, Michael Terry, Onalaska, was sentenced to 10 years in the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC) after pleading guilty to stealing 55 head of cattle in 2008 from a rancher in Goodrich as well as the trailer he transported the cattle in. The stolen cattle and trailer were worth more than $50,000. Terry was also arrested in October 2009 for stealing 10 head of cattle from a rancher in Trinity, while on bond for his 2008 theft charges. TSCRA has 29 special rangers stationed strategically throughout Texas and Oklahoma who have in-depth knowledge of the cattle industry and are trained in all facets of law enforcement.

All are commissioned as Special Rangers by the Texas Department of Public Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 133-year-old trade organization. As the largest livestock association in Texas, TSCRA represents more than 15,000 beef cattle producers, ranching families and businesses who manage approximately 4 million head of cattle on 51.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement and livestock inspection services, legislative and regulatory advocacy, industry news and information, insurance services and educational opportunities for its members and the industry.

Arrest Report