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Firefighters battle blaze in nearly 100 degree weather

Firefighters from Crockett Fire Department, Lovelady Volunteer Fire Department and the Texas Forest Service battled a five-acre grass fire on Cut Road in nearly 100-degree temperatures on Thursday, July 17.

According to reports, the blaze resulted from a con-trolled burn that was left unattended on private property located on CR 4030.

Crockett Fire Department Chief Darrell Deckard said two buildings were threatened in the 3:30 p.m. blaze.

One received minor damage and fire fighters were able to stop the fore at the perimeter of the second building.

A Courier photographer said that very thick smoke covered the entire area of the fire. "You could not see more than about 10-feet," she said. "You would see a fireman battling the blaze and then he would disappear into the thick smoke," she added.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident and firefighters cleared the scene at about 5:30. About two hours later at 7:30 p.m. Chief Deckard said the Crockett Fire Department was called to a second fire on CR 4020, also known as Old Lovelady Road.

The small grass fire along the side of the road was promptly extinguished by firefighters. No property was damaged in the fire and there were no re-ported witnesses as to the cause. ......Read the Entire story in the July 20 edition.

Allegations launch investigation

Allegations made against Houston County Sheriff’s Office Deputy H.D. Gresham and another unnamed deputy by a Crockett man, Damien Taylor, have resulted in an investigation reportedly led by the FBI.

According to Mystic Matthews, a reporter for KTRE Channel 9, Lufkin, the station’s news director was told that the “Crockett newspaper” was investigating an alleged incident that occurred in Crockett around noon on Friday, July 11 on Charles Street.

When assigned the story, Ms. Matthews was reportedly told the FBI, Texas Rangers, NAACP and Harry Fred Scott were investigating the case. Ms. Matthews told Courier General Manager Jeannine Rhone early afternoon on Tuesday, July 15 the allegations suggested that Gresham and another deputy had assaulted the 20-year-old Taylor and driven him to the county line from where he walked home.

The Tuesday night report on KTRE indicated that Taylor alleged a civil rights violation and that he had been tazed, kicked and beaten up by the deputies. The report also said that Crockett Police Department took statements from witnesses in the case, including photos from Gresham’s daughter Crystal, and turned all the information over to the Texas Rangers.

Arrest records from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office Jail indicate that since August 2006 Taylor had been arrested and charged with burglary, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and providing false information.

Sources said that Taylor had been charged in the past with burglarizing Gresham’s home.

Chief Fisher told Mrs. Rhone Wednesday morning in a telephone interview that the Crockett Police Department is not investigating the matter and that witnesses in the case are being told to contact the Sheriff's Office or the FBI in Tyler, since it is a civil rights issue.

In an interview with the Courier Wednesday morning HCSO Sheriff Darrel Bobbitt said, “On Tuesday, July 14, I was informed by one of my deputies that an alleged report had been made concerning one Damien Taylor.

“I was told that Taylor had reported that two other deputies had assaulted him.”

Bobbitt said the reporting deputy advised that he didn’t know all of the details but was just relaying what he had heard.

“The next day, still with no complainant coming forward, a representative from the Grapeland Messenger came to the sheriff’s office and advised that the Crockett Police Department had called for the paper to come to their office and they were given the information reported above.

“The representative from the Messenger also told me that two witnesses of the alleged incident were brought to the Police Department and allowed to be questioned by the reporter.”

“Apparently, Taylor had reported this to the Police Department, but as of Wednesday morning they have not called this office.”

Sheriff Bobbitt stated that from what he has been told, a report has been made and this investigation should be conducted by a neutral agency and let the evidence dictate the direction of the investigation.

He stated that he had never heard of a law enforcement agency contacting the media and allowing the media to question their potential witnesses in an alleged open investigation. Bobbitt said whether this report is accurate or not, it seems that any potential evidence from statements that could have been vital may now be jeopardized or tainted.

Sheriff Bobbitt emphatically stated that his office would cooperate fully with any investigation and looks forward to resolving this issue.

Sheriff Bobbitt said the two deputies remained on duty.

According to Garrett Floyd, FBI supervisor for the area, as of press time Wednesday morning there was no open case relating to the incident but an investigation will be conducted. ......Read the Entire story in the July 17 edition.

Two indicted on bank robbery charges

According to a report in the Corsicana Daily Sun, the two suspects in the Sept. 21, 2007 holdup of the Citizen’s National Bank here were indicted for that robbery as part of an 18-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Tyler.

The trial is reportedly set for Sept. 2. A Tyler Morning Telegraph article said the two men, Derrick Van Hodges, 34, and Paul Edward Thomas, 40, entered pleas of not guilty to all 18 indictments in a hearing on April 9, some eight days after they were indicted.

The duo are said to be half-brothers and are accused of robbing the Kelly Tyler Federal Credit Union, the Bank of America in Henderson, the Austin Bank in Troup, the Bank of America in Lufkin and the Citizens National Bank in Corsicana as well.

The pair has also reportedly been charged with 12 counts of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence.

The government is seeking $179,090 in cash proceeds derived from the robberies. according to an April 10 Morning Telegraph article.

The Sept. 21, 2007 robbery of the Citizen’s National Bank saw two male subjects with handguns enter the branch bank and take a large amount of cash.

Citizens National Bank Chairman and CEO Burl Hobson, Sr. said, “We are pleased to hear that in-dictments have been handed down in this case and look forward to justice being served.” ......Read the Entire story in the July 17 edition.

Voters receive letters

According to Houston County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar Danette Millican, under direction of the Texas Secretary of State some voters in the county have received a Notice of Examination indicating that as a felon they will not be al-lowed to vote.

"The Texas Secretary of State instructs all statewide offices to mail these letters because a felon cannot vote. However, once he has com-pleted his term of incarceration or probation, his voter registration can be restored if he will apply for another voter registration card," Mrs. Millican said.

Mrs. Millican went on to say her office receives the Juror Questionnaire from the Houston County District Clerk when a potential juror has checked on his Juror Questionnaire the Number 7 declaration that: To be qualified to serve as a juror, he must not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or other legal accusation for a misdemeanor theft or a felony.

She said by checking this statement, the person is telling the court that they cannot serve on a jury because they are a felon or under indict-ment.

"When my office receives this questionnaire a Notice of Examination is generated and mailed to this person. The voter is asked to complete this Notice of Examination. At this time he answers some general questions, particularly one concerning if he is or is not a felon. If he is not a felon, then he must answer one particular question: I have not been convicted of a felony. Either return the response by mail or deliver it to my office in person," she said.

The Notice of Examination states that if a reply is not received within 30 days of the date it is mailed, the voter's registration will be cancelled.

During this 30-day period, the voter is allowed to vote. At the time the reply is received, and if the voter is not a felon, it is noted in the com-puter and he is still able to vote.

"If all of this is done in the time allotted by the Secretary of State, and if the voter is not a felon, he will not be deprived of voting," Mrs. Millican added.

She said that from time to time, an occasional mistake is made and someone with the same name as a felon is mailed the letter.

"All a person has to do is contact my office so we can correct this error," she said. She added that if a person does not answer the Notice of Examination when it is mailed the voter registration will be cancelled as prescribed by the Secretary of State.

Mrs. Millican encouraged voters who had questions about their voter registration, to contact her office at 544-3255, ext. 258 or 243. ......Read the Entire story in the July 20 edition.

Arrest Report

Grapeland ambulance damaged by fire

According to Grapeland Fire Chief Roger Dickey, a Thursday, July 17 fire seriously damaged a Grape-land EMS 2007 Chevrolet Ambulance.

Dickey said a firefighter was passing by the fire station that houses the EMS equipment about 1:30 p.m. and noticed smoke coming from the unoc-cupied building.

The Grapeland firefighter immediately radioed for help and proceeded to remove the ambulance from the bay. The fire was promptly extinguished.

Dickey said the majority of the damaged sustained by the ambulance was confined to the motor and chassis.

He said there was some smoke damage to the am-bulance however, he added that there was no damage to the building, fire equipment or the other ambulance equipment.

"We are still able to meet the needs of resident's emergencies," Dickey said. "We are fortunate in that the incident occurred during the day when it could be readily noticed," he said.

One firefighter was reportedly overcome by smoke and transported to ETMC Tyler, treated and released.

Dickey said an insurance investigator and adjuster would review the incident and determine the cause of the fire and extent of damage to the equipment. ......Read the Entire story in the July 20 edition.

Local businessman mourned

Residents of Houston County are mourning the Thursday, July 17 loss of long-time resident Barry Holsey.

The 83-year-old Holsey was and owner-operator of Crock-ett Sand and Gravel.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served on the Atomic Energy commission during WWII. He was also a member of the National Cutting Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association.

Funeral service will be held on Sunday, July 20 at 3 p.m. at Harvest Church. Military graveside services will follow in the Holsey Family Ceme-tery. ......Read the Entire story in the July 20 edition.

TxDOT Urges Motorists To Be on the Lookout for Motorcyclists

With gas prices topping $4 per gallon, more and more Texans are trading their gas-guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks for more fuel-efficient motorcycles to save at the pump.

More motorcycles on the road means more motorcyclists may crash and ultimately die on Texas roadways.

That's why the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is launching a mo-torcycle safety campaign encouraging drivers to take extra caution watching for motorcy-clists on roadways.

Because they have less physical protection than passenger vehicle occupants, riders are particularly vulnerable in a crash.

Federal officials report that per vehicle mile traveled, mo-torcyclists are about 35 times more likely to die in a crash than passenger vehicle occupants.

"Registered motorcycles are at an all-time high in Texas," said Carlos Lopez, TxDOT‚s traffic operations director. "We're reminding drivers to be on the lookout for the nearly 400,000 motorcyclists on Texas roadways, especially at intersections where many crashes happen."

Grapeland resident Jerry Rhone said he has traveled 50,000 miles on his motorcycle since he purchased it in March 2006.

Rhone recently went on a five-state trip of more than 3,500 miles and said although the fuel savings were substantial, there were dangers from other vehicles. Rhone said debris flying from vehicles that either landed on the road or struck the motorcycle could result in an accident.

"While riding I have been struck by trash being thrown from cars and things flying out of pickups that nearly caused me to crash," Rhone said.

Beginning July 14, television and radio commercials and billboards along interstate highways will urge drivers to look twice for motorcyclists.

The public education initia-tive will run for two weeks, coincided with National Ride to Work Day on July 16.

Co-sponsoring the effort is the Texas Motorcycle Roadriders Association, which educates riders and promotes motorcycle safety in Texas. TxDOT and the Texas Motorcycle Roadriders As-sociation have these safety tips for sharing the road with motorcyclists:

• Look twice for motorcyclists˜at intersections, entering highways and whenever turning or changing lanes. The small size of motorcycles often makes them hard to see, and motorcyclists can get lost in blind spots.

• Always maintain a safe following distance. Mo-torcycles can stop more quickly than passenger vehicles.

• When passing a motorcyclist, move to the other lane and allow a full lane for the motorcycle. After doing so, avoid re-entering the lane too quickly.

In 2006, 346 motorcyclists were killed on Texas roads, which is nearly ten percent of all fatalities. ......Read the Entire story in the July 20 edition.

The Courier has published the 2008 Welcome Guide

For the third consecutive year, the Houston County Courier published the official Welcome Guide on Sunday, June 16.

The colorful and informative tabloid sized publication highlights all five cities in the county as well as attractions, schools, businesses, industry and recreation.

From Grapeland in the north end of the county to Lovelady in the south, Kennard in the east as well as Latexo and Crockett in the center, anything you want to know about the Gateway to the Texas Forest Country can be found in the Courier's Welcome Guide.

The 2008 Welcome Guide provides useful data to long-time residents and visitors in a professional and organized manner.

For additional information about the 2008 Welcome Guide contact the Courier at 544-2238.

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