-VOLUME 22 NO. 011 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 17^TH, 2007-

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With the Trinity River expected to crest in Liberty near 28.4 feet above sea level late tomorrow or early Friday, Liberty County Officials have asked for a voluntary evacuation of flood prone areas along the river. Emergency Management Coordinator Ken DeFoor said the main reason for the request is the threat of access roads becoming impassable due to rising water. Motorists should use extreme caution when water covers the roadway. Night travel in these areas should be avoided if possible.     

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An 8” water line in Dayton broke Monday night, causing water to about an 8-10 block area to be shut off for about an hour and a half. Dayton City Manager David Douglas said due to TCEQ regulations, those who lost water Monday night, most of which were south of Houston Street, should continue to boil all water intended for human consumption. City Manager Douglas said they have sent samples of the water to a lab for testing, and they anticipate receiving the results of those tests on Thursday.

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The Liberty Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon is next Wednesday – Jan. 24^th- at noon at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church’s Marion Hall. This month’s luncheon features a panel of local attorneys addressing issues such as domestic violence, family law and real estate. Lunch is fajitas for $8 a plate. Call 936-336-5736 for reservations     

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The Friends of the Liberty Municipal Library are holding their membership drive this month. Library Director Dana Abshire said they would be mailing out membership applications to current members, and also working to add memberships.  The friends’ organization provides both money to help fund special programs at the library as well as volunteer manpower.  Memberships run as little as $5 for an individual membership, $1,000 lifetime membership, and anything in between. For more information call 936-336-8901.

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Funerals: Ralph Rivera, Jr. 43. Funeral services will be Friday at 10 am at Neal Funeral Home Chapel in Cleveland. ** Brooks Eubanks, 71, of Old River, Services at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Sterling Funeral Home in Dayton. ** John Pugh Thompson, 74, of Liberty, Services at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Allison Funeral Service in Liberty. ** 

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  **LAKE RELEASE: 50,400 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 26.77 ASL**

 

 

-VOLUME 22 NO. 009 FRIDAY JANUARY 12^TH, 2007-

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US Congressmen Kevin Brady says he is against the proposed increase in the minimum wage because he felt the goal should be moving workers into good paying jobs.  He touted the idea of an education debit card that minimum wage workers can use to attend local community colleges, or trade schools to develop the skills that bring in what he called a livable wage.  Congressman Brady said even at $7.25 an hour, many folks will still be at the federal poverty level.  The congressman whose 8^th Congressional District includes a portion of Liberty County said he believes the proposal will pass.

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Information from the Dayton Police Department indicates Barbara Berotte, 50 of Dayton, remains in critical condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.  She is said to have a punctured liver and to be undergoing treatment to reduce swelling on the brain. She was injured Wednesday when a building collapsed, trapping her beneath the rubble.

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A high turnover rate of correctional officers results in an under experienced work force in Texas Department of Criminal Justice state prisons.  One of the reasons for the turnover, experts say, is the pay scale.  Both Senator Tommy Williams and State Representative John Otto agree that something needs to be done to address the pay of those state employees in high-risk jobs. Senator Williams said he has already talked with a fellow senator about addressing the issue this session.

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The Dayton Athletic Booster Club’s Annual Oyster and Fish Fry is Saturday at Woodrow Wilson Jr. High in Dayton.  Tickets are $12 for all you can eat fish and a dozen oysters. Saturday’s dinner will be from 5 pm – 7:30 pm. Tickets are available in advance at Dayton Farm and Ranch, Legend Bank, Prosperity Bank in Dayton, Calvin Westcott State Farm, and Randel Arnold State Farm as well as at the door.

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Funerals: Russell Glenn Todd, 39 of Daisetta. Funeral services tomorrow at 2 PM at Central Baptist Church in Daisetta * Bertha N. McCarty Campbell, 98 of Huffman. Funeral services at 11 AM Monday at Rice Funeral Home in Claremore, Oklahoma * Doris Lorraine Emmons Pledger, 80 of Hull. Funeral services 10 AM today at Sterling Funeral Home-Dayton.

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    **LAKE RELEASE: 9,000 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 22.58 ASL**

 

-VOLUME 22 NO. 008 THURSDAY JANUARY 11^TH, 2007-

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As of late yesterday afternoon, Barbara Berotte, age 50 of Dayton was in critical condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, after a building collapsed on her. Dayton police Sgt. Doug O’Quinn said she and her brother, John Berotte, were helping another sister by demolishing an old outbuilding behind the residence when, without warning, it collapsed, trapping her under the roof structure. Dayton Fire Department and Liberty Co. EMS personnel worked with axes, poles and bare hands ripping at the roof to free the woman. While initially, it was thought she had died as a result of the accident, EMS personnel were able to restore her heart beat using cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, and she was taken to the Houston Hospital by LifeFlight Air Ambulance.

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Dayton Police say shortly after 11 am yesterday, Robert Vaughn of Tarkington was going south on Highway 146 south of Dayton when he crossed the centerline and struck the pick up of northbound Joe Patton of Dayton. Witnesses told police that Mr. Vaughn began trying to conceal items after the wreck, and officers found drug paraphernalia including what appeared to be a crack cocaine pipe in nearby foliage. Liberty County EMS took Robert Vaughn to Liberty Dayton Community Hospital. The Chambers Liberty County Narcotics Task Force was notified by Dayton PD of the drug paraphernalia in Vaughn’s possession and he was taken into custody following his release from the hospital.

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The Liberty City Council Tuesday night appointed five people to a charter review commission, they are: Mark Morefield, Patricia Watson, Cathy Harbour, Ron Mayo and Frank Jordan. Council also named six to the Airport Advisory Board, Rick McGuire, Chet Tims, David Lawrence, Charles Graebin, Linda Street-Ely, and Airport Supervisor Avon Moore.

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The Dayton Rotary Club is holding their annual fundraising Gumbo Luncheon Friday, January 19^th. The chicken and sausage gumbo will be served at the First United Methodist Church in Dayton from 10:30 until 2:30. Tickets are available from any Dayton Rotary Club member or at the door. Tickets are $5. Proceeds benefit the Dayton Rotary Club Scholarship program and other community projects.

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    **LAKE RELEASE: 17,000 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 23.01 ASL**

VOLUME 22 NO. 007 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 10^TH, 2007-

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In their first regular meeting of the new year, Liberty Co. Commissioners voted to hold the final payment to Corrections Corporation of America until issues with required reports from CCA and maintenance at the county jail could be worked out. Liberty County Auditor Harold Seay said he is still waiting on reports from the former jail operators that were due last summer. Liberty County Sheriff Greg Arthur said they continue to find areas of the jail where the facility was not maintained as required by the contract between CCA and Liberty County. The final check being held by the county is a little over $400,000.

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Monday night, the Dayton City Council approved a new logo to appear on city vehicles and other city property over the next few months. The new logo features the motto “Making the Difference” and an impressive star over a map of Texas marking Dayton’s location. The logo will be in red, white and blue. Council also approved installation of 36-inch drainage pipelines behind the Dayton Dirt Yard and under Colbert Street.   

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Lee College Director of Continuing Education and Work Force Training, Johna Paige said areas of the medical field comprise a large number of the top 50 fastest growing fields in the country. She said Lee College offers a number of fast track programs to help someone enter these career areas in as little at 6 weeks. While some of the programs must be taken in a classroom setting, some are offered online. Check them out on line by going to www.kshn.com and click on schools.

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Superintendent Mona Chadwick said all Liberty Schools will be dismissed at 2 p.m. tomorrow so faculty and students can, if they wish, attend the funeral of longtime educator, Nick Vaught. 

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The Liberty County Courthouse as well as city offices in both Dayton and Liberty will be closed Monday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. All banks and post offices will also be closed, however garbage pick up will run as scheduled Monday in both Liberty and Dayton.

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Funerals: Ila Boyt Maxwell, 96, of Devers, Graveside services at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Beaumont. **

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     **LAKE RELEASE: 23,000 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 23.15 ASL**

 

-VOLUME 22 NO. 006 TUESDAY JANUARY 9^TH, 2007-

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Long time beloved schoolteacher, coach and friend- Nick Vaught died shortly after 1 PM Monday. The 53-year-old popular educator suffered a severe stroke several months ago, and during treatment, an aggressive brain tumor was discovered. Family members said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family and closest friends. Besides his unselfish involvement in many community activities, Nick Vaught was also a familiar voice on KSHN radio as the color analyst for the Liberty Panther Football Game Broadcasts. In his immediate family is survived by his wife Lorrie Hartel Vaught and their son, Jake.

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The Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting for the new Chili’s Restaurant on the 146 Bypass in Liberty was yesterday morning. Though the new restaurant will not open to the public until 11 a.m. Thursday, those attending the ceremony and other invited guests were asked to help train the new Chili’s staff by sitting down to a complimentary meal. Manager Jason Burkhalter said they have already hired 119 employees, they still have openings for experienced cooks.

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Former Cleveland High School Football Star Dennis Ellis was a starter for the Boise State Bronco Team that defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 43 to 42 in overtime on New Year’s Day at the Fiesta Bowl.  The 2002 Cleveland Grad had an outstanding record at the College of the Canyons, then moved on to play for Boise State in Idaho. Dennis Ellis is a Senior Communications Major and has been a key player in the Defensive Line for the undefeated Broncos.    

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The 9th Annual Liberty County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Liberty Center at City Hall. The guest speakers are State Representatives John Otto and Dr. Alma A. Allen. There will also be special musical presentations, dance and drill routines. For more information, call 936-336-7393 or 936-336-6601. 

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Funerals: Norman Ray Mosely, Jr., 43, of Dayton, Services at noon today at Hardin Baptist in Hardin. ** Dorothy Marie Hart, 79, of Rye, Services at 2 p.m. Wednesday at 1^st Baptist Church of Batson. **  Nick Vaught, 53. Funeral Services Thursday at 4 PM at the First Baptist Church in liberty.

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     **LAKE RELEASE: 23,000 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 23.21 ASL**

 

-VOLUME 22 NO. 005 MONDAY JANUARY 8^TH, 2007-

A routine stop by Liberty Police last Thursday night resulted in five people arrested on hunting violations. Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Danny Diaz said police found two buck deer, several rabbits, raccoons and armadillos inside an SUV. James Peak, 19, of Liberty and K. C. Nelson, 17, of Anahuac are charged with hunting white tail deer at night – a State Jail felony. Kevin Brock, 20, of Hardin, 18-year-old Cody Harryman and Fawn Parrot, also 18, both from Liberty, are charged with hunting at night from a vehicle- a Class A Misdemeanor.      

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That story provided Game Warden Diaz with more information prompting him to believe there was more to the story –Diaz and other officers staked out Liberty Food Mart on Virginia St. in Liberty and it paid off.  Soon the lawmen raided the small store issuing misdemeanor citations to three. Two were charged with  buying white tail deer, one for selling the same wildlife game. Cited at the store was Quan Van Vo-43 and Van Trang Ly-48. 

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Assistant Liberty Fire Chief Jennifer Huddleston said firefighters answered a call to Black and Gold Services on Hwy 90 around 7 last Friday night and found - not one – but two of the company’s 18-wheel vacuum trucks on fire. The trucks were parked side-by-side and while both cabs were destroyed, firefighters were able to keep the flames from doing damage to the trucks’ trailer tanks. Chief Huddleston said the cause of the fire is under investigation but nothing has been found to indicate foul play. Damage to the trucks is between $250,000 and $300,000.    

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Liberty High Baseball players are raising money for expenses over the teams school budget. The players are selling a book of coupons good for free and discounted foods from 11 different Liberty and Dayton restaurants. The book costs $20 with a lot more value and can be purchased from any Liberty baseball player or Coach Josh Sadler at 346-6707.

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Houston Galveston Area Council Representatives will be at the Dayton City Hall from 9 to 2 tomorrow to take applications for assistance from residents who have been unable to repair Hurricane Rita damage to their homes. Another chance to apply for funds from a $7 million federal grant is on Thursday Jan. 18^th at the Tri-County MH/MR Office in Cleveland.

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Funerals:Inez Johnson 86, of Kenefick, Services were Sunday.

  **LAKE RELEASE: 23,000 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 23.26 ASL**