LOCAL NEWS

CHAPA PLEADS GUILTY

06/26/2010

THE TRIAL OF A WINNIE MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN CHAMBERS COUNTY HAD BARELY BEGUN WHEN THE DEFENDANT CHANGED HIS MIND AND ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA. ACCORDING TO CHAMBERS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHERYL LIECK JURY SELECTION WAS NOT YET COMPLETED MONDAY IN JUDGE CARROLL WILBURN’S 344TH DISTRICT COURT, WHEN CHRISTOPHER CHAPA DECIDED TO FORGO A JURY TRIAL AND PLEAD GUILTY TO SHOOTING DEREK MUNOZ AT A RESIDENCE IN WINNIE ON MAY 23RD 2009. MS. LIECK SAID CHAPA’S GUILTY PLEA WAS NOT PART OF ANY SENTENCING AGREEMENT WITH HER OFFICE AND HE ESSENTIALLY THREW HIMSELF ON THE MERCY OF THE COURT. CHRIS CHAPA, WHO IS IN HIS EARLY TWENTIES, FACES FROM 5 TO 99 YEARS OR LIFE IN PRISON FOR THE MURDER OF DEREK MUNOZ. HE IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR BEFORE JUDGE WILBURN FOR SENTENCING ON AUGUST 6TH.

hunger buster

news story

06.26.10

the liberty hunger busters youth summer lunch program is off to what is described a fantastic start. according to superintendent cynthia lusignolo, volunteers have already served 11,800 free meals to liberty kids in the first three weeks. this year’s program kicked off june 7 with 3,300 meals served that week. then in week two 4,000 lunches were passed out with 4,500 free meals served this week. the largest single day occurred thursday when 1,000 liberty kids got a free lunch. as has been reported, hunger busters is a communitywide partnership involving liberty school district, area churches, texas agrilife extension service and many volunteers. last summer this popular program served more than 21,000 free lunches to hungry children in liberty. these free lunches have nothing to do with family income. all kids - 1 to 18 – are welcome. this community PARTNERSHIP is providing free lunches mondays through fridays from noon to 1 p.m. at locations throughout the liberty school district. this includes the san jacinto elementary campus on grand AVENUE and the liberty middle school on jefferson drive. there are also nine SATELLITE feeding locations. that way, kids who don’t have TRANSPORTATION to the school campuses can go to a participating site in their neighborhood for a free meal. this summer, these locations include the liberty city park PAVILION, liberty MUNICIPAL library, the vfw hall on main street, and the parking lot of the moss bluff VOLUNTEER fire department at lake granada. among the churches hosting this free lunch program are the assembly of god on texas at grand, central baptist church on highway 90 at layl drive, calvary baptist church south of moss bluff on fm 563, st miles baptist church on u.s. 90 in ames, and lily of the valley baptist church on south oil field road in liberty. the HUNGER buster youth summer lunch program will continue all summer long providing FREE LUNCHes WEEKDAYS to all kids from 1 to 18 years old. during the first three weeks, 11,800 free meals have been handed out.

DVFD BBQ and auction

News story

06.26.10

another reminder – the Dayton volunteer fire department’s annual barbecue and auction is today at the fire house on the corner of cook winfree. the long-running fund raiser provides some of the money needed to help run the county’s largest volunteer fire department. The $8 Barbecue plate includes brisket, beans and green rice. the lunch will be served today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. also, As in past years, the dayton volunteer fire department’s ladies AUXILIARY will hold a silent auction. items include baked goods and merchandise donated by area businesses and individuals. The community is encouraged to support the dayton volunteer fire department’s annual barbecue and auction today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the firehouse on winfree street just north of u.s. 90.

road funding

news story

06.24.10

texas department of TRANSPORTATION has taken a step toward the construction of a new highway in northern Chambers County. on thursday, The Texas Transportation Commission approved what’s called pass-through financing to extend FM 1409. the proposed $20 million project includes extending FM 1409 from FM 565 at Old River-Winfree to FM 563 south of Interstate 10. Randy Redmond, Beaumont District Engineer, said This is a major milestone in improving transportation in one of the fastest growing areas of the district. mr. redmon credited the close-knit partnerships involving chambers county elected officials with making this first pass-through financing project in the Beaumont District possible. Pass-through financing allows local communities to fund up-front costs for construction on a state highway project. The state then reimburses a portion of those project costs to the community over time based on a fee for each vehicle using the highway. Thursday’s approval by the commission allows TxDOT and Chambers County officials to begin negotiating terms to repay the county for building the highway. Texas legislators approved pass-through financing as a tool to help stretch limited highway funds. It also allows local officials to reprioritize and accelerate projects important to their region. This chambers county project is one of 11 around the state approved by state highway commissioners at an estimated total cost of $280 million. Construction on the extension of fm 1409 in chambers county is expected to begin within five years.

direct deposit or express card

news story

06.26.10

do you still receive your social security check through the u.s. mail? federal officials encourage social security recipients using the postal service to switch to direct deposit to safeguard those funds against both theft and fraud. direct deposit also ensures receiving funds on time even in the wake of the worst of conditions like the aftermath of hurricanes or other natural disasters. according to christy dearing, a claims REPRESENTATIVE with the beaumont office of social SECURITY, the department of treasury also offers folks, without bank accounts, that same level of protection through what is called a direct express card.

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this Card is a prepaid debit card for Social Security and supplemental security income payments. these Direct Express cards provide a safe and convenient way to receive federal benefits. david bowman, assistant district manager with the BEAUMONT office of social security, said about 23 percent of social security recipients in southeast texas still get their social security check through the mail. If that check is lost or stolen, mr. bowman said it is not protected. on the other hand, funds deposited directly to a bank account or onto a direct express card are federally protected. therefore, both of these beaumont area social security representatives said it makes sense for those without bank accounts to utilize a direct express card. to find out more, call the treasury department’s toll-free phone number at 877-212-9991. recipients also can sign up for direct express on-line at www.directexpress.com. also note that some banks will open an account for social security recipients just for direct deposit use only. those with a bank account can sign up for direct deposit by calling toll-free the social security office in beaumont at 866-613-2864 or the national number at 800-772-1213. in that case, you will need your bank account number and routing number. you are contacting them – so it’s ok to give that personal info. find social security online by going to our website – www.kshn.com – and clicking on the government link. remember – if it’s the direct express or direct deposit through a local bank – either is safer than a check in the mail and both always offer timely access to funds, even following disasters like a hurricane.

community garden

news story

06.26.10

it was a big week for those involved in creating a liberty community garden. on tuesday, liberty isd trustees unanimously approved the use of the grounds of the old San Jacinto ELEMENTARY school at the corner of texas and grand avenue. Then, there was an ORGANIZATIONAL meeting on thursday. more than 25 folks showed up to support the communitywide project. at that GATHERING, the group adopted bylaws and elected officers. tracy williams will serve as president of the liberty community garden, and local master gardner al brandli was named vice president. local extension agent alexis cordova is secretary. the other officers are treasurer fredia (free-duh) DAVIS and financial secretary debbie haynie. in addition, the group is working to get approval as an official non-profit corporation through both the irs and texas secretary of state’s office. in still another positive development, the city of liberty has agreed to provide water to the site. as previously reported here on kshn, the idea of the community garden is being pushed hard by local state farm agent tracy williams. she is the incoming liberty rotary club president, but the concept has grown to include texas agrilife extension service, the liberty county master gardeners, liberty garden club, liberty isd plus other local groups and individuals. plans for this community garden call for 58 planting plots measuring 4 by 8 feet each. individuals or groups can rent a garden space for $50 a year or $30 for a six-month growing season. in addition, each liberty school campus will get two plots to use for educational purposes. another meeting of the liberty community garden is set for tuesday, july 6, at 5 P.M. that gathering will be at st. stephen’s episcopal church on trinity avenue in liberty. the public is invited. anyone interested in learning more or securing a plot in the new liberty community garden can call the extension office at 936-336-4558, ext. 221.