gonzales cannon dec 29 issue

The first-ever Cannon all-region football Section C

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Gonzales Nixon Smiley Moulton Shiner Waelder Yoakum Luling Flatonia Hallettsville Cuero and More

Vol. 3- Issue 14

CannonThe GonzalesWWW.GONZALESCANNON.COMBy CEDRIC IGLEHART

Nixon honors its fire fighters, first responders Page B1

Region

SeniorsOur monthly focus on senio r living Page B8

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Suspects elude troopers after wild [email protected]

Republicans tighten grip on local countiesBy DAVE [email protected]

The holidays are proving to be anything but slow for area law enforcement. A high-speed chase that went through two area counties ultimately proved fruitless for authorities Tuesday afternoon. At approximately 2:38 p.m., Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Joel Johnson attempted to execute a traffic stop on a vehicle on Highway 90-A, traveling toward Lavaca County. Instead of pulling over, the driver of the car, a 2003 Dodge pickup, continued on his way. Firefighters try to douse flames at a house fire which erupted Tuesday morning in Harwood. The wood-frame A high-speed chase enhome was completely destroyed in the blaze. At press time, the cause of the fire was still under investigation. sued that lasted for nine (Photo by Cedric Iglehart) minutes. The vehicle left the

Fire claims house in Harwood

highway and turned right on FM 443, where the truck reached speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour. After turning on CR 368, the vehicle went through four fences before coming to an abrupt stop. Authorities say 14 people emerged from the vehicle and fled into the brush on foot. After a search of the area, none of the trucks occupants were ever found and the vehicle was impounded. In Gonzales, a juvenile was taken into custody late Tuesday night following a break-in at a local gas station. Gonzales Police Captain Alan Taylor said that at approximately midnight, offiBREAK-IN, Page A3

While the uncertainty of district boundaries because of court challenges to redistricting has several state-level races full of candidates and confusion, ballot lineups for county-level races are taking shape throughout the region. And its a region which appears to be growing pardon the term progressively conservative.

Energy WatchWednesdays PricesNymex Oil Futures $99.53/bbl Nymex Gas Futures $3.08

Earth,elements leftFire and Water Air, an impact on regional news in 2011 Mythical fourBy CEDRIC [email protected]

As of the first filing deadline on Dec. 19, all of the candidates who have filed to seek county-level offices in Gonzales are Republicans including three incumbents who will be switching parties. Four of the five members of Commissioners Court in Gonzales County will now be Republicans. Precinct 1 Commissioner K.O. Dell Whiddon and Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin LaFleur announced their switch during the recent county GOP

Christmas banquet, joining Precinct 2 Commissioner Donnie Brzozowski and Precinct 4s Otis S. Bud Wuest. Only County Judge David Bird remains a Democrat. Also filing as a Republican to seek the office of county Tax Assessor-Collector was Crystal Cedillo. She has obtained the endorsement of the retiring Norma Jean DuBose, who has held office as a Democrat. Also switching parties will be

Precinct 1 Constable Ken Hedrick. The situation is much the same in DeWitt County, where only two people have filed to seek county-level offices as Democrats. Kevin Kroos will oppose Republican incumbent Sheriff Jode Zavesky, while David L. Ruiz is seeking the post as Constable, Precinct 1. The Republican Precinct 1 Constable candidate is Gerard Gerry LaGrange. Several DeWitt County races

will have primary challenges, however. Jay Condle and Daryl L. Fowler have filed to seek the County Judges post, while Paddy Burwell and Natalie Carson have filed to seek election as the County Clerk. Bill Matthys has filed to oppose incumbent Peggy Mayer for Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1. The 25th Judicial District, which covers Guadalupe, Gonzales and Lavaca counties, has PRIMARIES, Page A3

Inside This Week:Agribusiness..................... A7 Arts/Entertainment........A9 Business.............................. A7 Classifieds.......................... B4 Comics................................ C4 Crime Beat........................ A2 Faith & Family................... B3 In Our View........................ A4 In Your View...................... A5 Obituaries.......................... A3 Puzzle Page...................... C3 Regional............................. B1 Sports.................................. C1

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Come and Hear It! Tune in to radio station KCTI 1450 AM at 8 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Tuesday for weekly updates from Gonzales Cannon news editor Cedric Iglehart and General manager Dave Mundy with KCTI personality Egon Barthels.

It was the fifth-century Greek philosopher Empedocles who first taught that all matter is comprised of four root elements earth, air, fire and water. Its funny how 1,700 years later, these elements continue to show just how much they still matter by dominating our area news in 2011. The biggest story of the year revolved around fire, specifically the Bastrop County Complex fire that occurred in September during Labor Day weekend. Over 1,600 homes were destroyed by the raging blaze, making it the most destructive of its kind in Texas history. The inferno took 36 days to fully extinguish, but not before it did an estimated $325 million of property damage and killed two people. On Sept. 20, fire officials reported that the likely cause of the blaze was sparks from electric power lines. A stiff wind was blamed for toppling trees onto those lines at two locations, creating sparks that fell onto the dry grass below.

A boom, and a disaster

The impact of the Eagle Ford Shale oil boom is evident in this aerial view of the Cheapside area (left) oil leases show as white terrain. At right, the skies over the region darkened during the Labor day weekend as major wildfires broke out near Delhi and Bastrop. (Left image courtesy Google Earth; right photo courtesy Scott Baer) Which leads into our second biggest story of the year which involves water, or more specifically the lack of it - the drought. In 2011, Texas set a record for worst one-year drought as groundwater levels in much of the state fell to their lowest levels in more than 60 years. Couple that with the hottest summer ever recorded, and the resulting agricultural loss and damage climbed above $10 billion. Water levels dipped so low that there entire towns flooded decades 2011, Page A8Weather Sponsored by:

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For The RecordThe Cannon


Today in Texas HistoryDecember 29, 1845 On this day in 1845, the United States Congress voted to annex Texas. Statehood was first proposed in 1837, but was rejected by President Martin Van Buren. Constitutional scruples and fear of war with Mexico were the reasons given for the rejection. Under President James Polk the United States Congress passed the Annexation Resolution in February 1845. Both the Texas Congress and a convention of delegates voted for annexation, and a state constitution was drawn up. The document was ratified by popular vote in October 1845 and accepted by the United States Congress on December 29, 1845. On February 19, 1846, President Jones of the Republic of Texas handed over control of the new state government to Governor James Pinckney Henderson.

Thought for the Day

Gonzales Co. Sheriffs Office ReportGonzales County Sheriffs Office Sheriffs Report for Dec. 18-24: 12/18/11 Galindo, Millisa Zamora, 11/1971, Gonzales. Local Warrant Obstruction of Retaliation. Requires $15,000 Bond. Local Warrant Resist Arrest Search or Transport. Requires $5,000 Bond. Remains in Custody. 12/21/11 Walton, Anthony Cain, 03/1992, Texas City. Minor in Possession. Released on Order to Appear. 12/22/11 Girouard, Brenda Carlson, 07/1957, Gonzales. Disorderly Conduct. Released on Order to Appear. Gonzales, Justin Matthew, 07/1993, Nixon. Commitment/ Sentence Burglary of a Building. Released Weekender/ Work Release. Total Arrest, Court Commit-

The Gonzales Police Department is asking the publics help in identifying two suspects in armed robberies which took place late this year. The suspect at left is pictured on surveillance video during an armed robbery of D&G Liquors in October. He is described as a Hispanic male 30-40 years of age, approximately 5-8 or 5-9 and weighing between 180 and 200 pounds, with short brown hair. The suspect at right is wanted for the Dec. 6 armed robbery of Guerras Grill. He is described as a Hispanic male around 58 tall with a stocky build, with curly ments, other agency arrest and dark hair, a 3-4 days growth of beard, with medium-complexion skin. He was processings: reported wearing a green camouflage Army jacket, blue jeans, and a turquoise bandana and was reportedly a smoker. If you have any information regarding GCSO 04 these or any other cases please contact 830-672-8686 immediately.DPS GPD WPD NPD Constable DWCSO DEA TPW GCAI Total 05 06 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 16

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt

Police seek publics help

DPS to bulk up enforcementThe Texas Department of Public Safety will have extra troopers on the highways during the New Years holiday weekend. From Friday through Sunday, the highway patrol troopers will be assisted by troopers from the Commercial Vehicle Unit in patrolling. Troopers will be looking for intoxicated drivers, speeders, drivers following too close, cutting in and out of traffic, passengers not wearing safety belts and other hazards. Many vehicle fatalities during the holidays are alcohol-related with pedestrians involved. Most fatal accidents occur less than 25 miles from home, according to research by the Department of Public Safety. The department would

like to remind those consuming alcohol during the holidays to be sure a designated driver who is not drinking is available.

DeWitt Co. Sheriffs Office ReportDeWitt County Sheriffs Office Arrest Report for Dec. 1521: Jail Average Daily Count 83 Inmates Housed for Other Agencies 10 December 15, 2011 Scott Rogers, 19, of Victoria, Violation of Probation / Criminal Mischief >$20k < $100k, Bond of $20,000, DCSO Marcus Montel McDonald, 30, of Cuero, Violation of Probation / Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More, No Bond, DCSO Stanley Gerard Campbell, 24, of Cuero, Violation of Probation / Sexual Assault of Child, Bond of $40,000, DCSO December 16, 2011 Shelby Lynne Cochran, 19, of Yorktown, Hinder Apprehension / Prosecution, Bond of $1,000, DCSO Jason Lee Carter, 29, of Cuero, Theft of Cell Phone (Jim Hogg County), Fine of $450 (30 Days to Pay), Cuero PD David Ramirez, 42, of Cuero, Revocation of Probation / Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More, No Bond, DCSO Christian Guajardo, 22, of Cuero, Revocation of Probation / Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1 < 1G, No Bond, DCSO December 17, 2011 Deborah Pietzsch, 43, of Victoria, Tamper / Fabricate Physical Evidence, Bond of $10,000, Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1 > = 1G < 4G, Bond of $10,000, Possession / Delivery Drug Paraphernalia, Fine of $277 (30 days to Pay), DCSO Daryl Bluntzer, 53, of Yorktown, Possession / Delivery Drug Paraphernalia, Fine of $277 (30 Days to Pay), DCSO December 18, 2011 Samantha Rangel, 23, of Victoria, Capias Pro Fine/Speeding 1/10 Miles over Limit, Fine of $306.80, Fail To Appear/Speeding 1/10 Miles over Limit, Fine of $509.60, Cuero PD December 19, 2011 John Galindo Jr., 57, of Cuero, Assault Causes Bodily Injury Family Violence, Bond of $2,000, Cuero PD Raul Delagarza, 58, of Seabrook, Bond Forfeiture/Theft by Check, Bond of $3,000, DCSO Steven Robert Maldonado, 19, of Cuero, Driving While License Invalid Enhanced, Bond of $1,000, Expired License Plate, Fine of $117 (30 Days To Pay), License to be Carried and Displayed on Demand, Dismissed, Cuero PD George Galindo, 60, of Cuero, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity (Victoria County), Bond of $20,000, USMS Conrado Lira Jr., 35, of Cuero, Theft Stolen Property < $1,500 2/More Previous Convictions (Victoria County), Bond of $5,000, USMS Walter Houston, 47, of Cuero, Speeding 1-10 Miles over Limit, Fine of $156 (30 Days to Pay), No Drivers License, Fine of $166 (30 Days to Pay), Fail to Appear, Fine of $367 (30 Days to Pay), Cuero PD December 20, 2011 Robert Camp, 40, of Conroe, Driving While License Invalid Subsequent Offense, Bond of $1,000, DCSO Hector Olvera, 27, of Yoakum, Revocation of Probation / Criminal Mischief >= $1,500 < $20K, No Bond, Criminal Nonsupport (Lavaca County), No Bond, DCSO Michelle Zamora, 27, of Sebastian, Revocation of Probation / Possession of Controlled Substance, Bond of $35,000, Failure to Appear on Revocation of Probation / Possession of Marijuana, Bond of $800, DCSO Lottie Washington, 48, of Yoakum, Manufacture Delivery Controlled Substance PG < 28G, Bond of 25,000, DCSO December 21, 2011 James Hodge, 64, of Gonzales, Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More, Bond of $10,000, DPS Nicholas Katch, 20, of Mission Valley, Possession of Marijuana < 2 Oz, Bond of $1,000, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Fine of $327 (30 Days to Pay), DCSO Martin Medina, 34, of Yorktown, Violation of Probation / Bail Jumping and Failure to Appear, Bond of $20,000, DCSO

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AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY1.800.227.2345 cancer.orgGenerous contributions to the American Cancer Society Relay For Life help the Society save lives. One way donations make a difference is helping people stay well. The American Cancer Society Quitline is a telephone counseling service that doubles a persons chances of quitting tobacco for good. The ACS also develops guidelines for recommended cancer screenings and nutrition and physical activity. This information helps people know what tests they need to find cancer early and how to help prevent the disease. There are also tips, tools, and online resources available to help people set goals and stay motivated to eat healthy and maintain an active lifestyle. The American Cancer Society can be reached twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-227-2345 or go to the Web site, cancer.org.

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Thursday, December 29, 2011 Welcoming our newest subscribersMike Bond, Gonzales

GBRA directors re-elect board officersCannon News [email protected]

The Cannon

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December 28th Pam Linebrink Isabel De Los Santos Joshua Estrada Kathy Miller Lance McCormick Leslie Leal Letisha Rodriguez Victoria Martinez December 29th Mikayla Wyatt Karla Rodriguez Christi Marek Mayra Sanchez Sherry Mills Stacy Fogle Nakoyia VaShawn Smith December 30th Cullen Eppright Donna Spahn Kimie Garcia Brandon Metcalfe Laurie Baker-Cook Michaela Garcia Sara DuBose December 31st Esperanza Verastegui Sarah Salazar January 1st Debbie ToliverWant to help your friends and family celebrate? Let us know about the big day by calling 830-672-7100.

Happy Birthday!

SEGUIN At the December meeting in Seguin, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) Board of Directors re-elected current board officers for 2012. Grace Kunde of Guadalupe County, will continue as chair, Oscar Fogle of Caldwell County as vice-chair, and Arlene Marshall of Calhoun County as secretary/treasurer. Kunde earned her bachelors degree in accounting from Texas Lutheran University and her law degree from St. Marys University School of Law. She is a private practice attorney in Seguin and a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, the San Antonio Bar Association, and the Guadalupe County Bar Association. Kunde volunteers her time to church, civic, and political activities. She is a member of Redeemer United Church of Christ, the Seguin Rotary Club, a member and former president of the Guadalupe County Republican Women, a former Guadalupe County Republican Party precinct chair and is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust. Kunde previously served on the Board of Directors for the Comal County Childrens Shelter as treasurer and president and a member of the Advisory Board.

Fogle and his wife Susie own and operate Oak Hill Ranch, where they have a commercial cattle business and employ several wildlife management practices. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and retired from a career with Exxon Corporation. As a member of Exxons International Oil Spill Response Team, Fogle was a deputy taskforce commander during the Exxon Valdez oil spill clean-up operations. Fogle attended Texas A&I University, now Texas A&MKingsville. He is a past president of the Texas A&I Alumni Association, and served for sixteen years on the Board of Trustees for the Texas A&MKingsville Foundation. Fogle serves as chair of the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the Caldwell County Appraisal District, serves on the Executive Committee of Envision Central Texas, serves on the Steering Committee of the Plum Creek Watershed Partnership, serves on the Board of Trustees of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust, is an active member of the Caldwell County Republican Party, and is a life member of the National Rifle Association and Texas State Rifle Association. Fogle is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lockhart, where he is a certified lay speaker and serves as the vice-chair of the Board of Trustees. Marshall is a former Coun-

ty Judge for Calhoun County, served as president of the Calhoun County Economic Development Corporation, and owned and operated Newman International, Inc., in Houston, buying and exporting oil and gas field equipment. Marshall earned her bachelors degree at the University of Houston, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the University of Houston-Victoria Regional Advisory Board, the Victoria College Foundation, and serves as Chair of the Victoria College Calhoun County Campus Advisory Board. Marshall also serves as di-

rector for the Workforce Solutions of Golden Crescent, is Past President of the Port Lavaca Rotary Club, Vice President of the Matagorda Island Foundation, and has been appointed a member of the Governors EMS and Trauma Advisory Council. She is a member of Six Mile Assembly of God Church where she is a lay teacher/ speaker. Kunde, Fogle, and Marshall are appointees of Governor Rick Perry. Other members of the GBRA board of directors are Rusty Brockman, Comal County; Myrna McLeroy, Gonzales County; Tommy

Mathews, Kendall County; James L. Powers, Hays County; Dennis Patillo, Victoria County and Frank Pagel, Refugio County. The GBRA was established by the Texas Legislature in 1933 as a water conservation and reclamation district. GBRA provides stewardship for the water resources in its 10-county statutory district, which begins near the headwaters of the Guadalupe and Blanco rivers, ends at San Antonio Bay, and includes Kendall, Comal, Hays, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Gonzales, DeWitt, Victoria, Calhoun, and Refugio counties.

Obituariesare the immediate family members. Arrangements were entrusted to the Villasenor Family, Los Angeles Funeral Home, 300 Cheatham St., San Marcos, Texas (512) 392-3676. Marvin Edward Ashley, age 79, died December 25, 2011 at his home in Gonzales. He was born on May 8, 1932 in San Antonio. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army, was a member of the Baptist Church, and had served as a director of the Nixon State Bank, a member of the Nixon-Smiley Livestock Show Board, the Bexar County Jr. Livestock Show, and the Southside ISD School Board. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward G. and Thelma E. (Johnson) Ashley; a son, Bryan Edward Ashley; a sister, Joyce Fay Ashley; and a brother, Dever Ray Ashley. He is survived by his loving wife since October 8, 1954, Martha (Weathersby) Ashley; daughter, Carol Ashley Schmidt and husband Louis Otto Schmidt, and their children: Cora Beth Schmidt and Margaret Schmidt; daughter, Sandra Ashley Holmes and husband Richard Henry Holmes, and their children: Sarah Holmes, Matthew Holmes and Jordan Holmes; daughter, Rhonda Ashley Heffernan and husband Scott Heffernan, and their children: Eric Davis and wife Leslie, Mark Davis, and Jenna Davis; a brother, Lloyd E. Ashley; two sisters: Anna Lee Gravell and Martha Lou McCarley; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as other relatives and many close friends. Viewing and visitation was held Tuesday, December 27th, from 5PM - 7 PM at Finch Funeral Chapel in Nixon. The Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, December 28th, at 2:00 PM at Finch Chapel with the Rev. Chris Irving officiating. Interment will follow

ASHLEY

at the Nixon Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donors choice. The guest book may be signed on-line at www.finchfuneralchapels.com.

Manuel B. Garcia, 1938-2011 Manuel B. Garcia was surrounded by his family and left his earthly bonds peacefully on Monday, December 26, 2011 at the age of 73. Born May 15, 1938 in DeWitt County, Manuel will forever be remembered in our hearts as a loving husband, fatherm grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He has been reunited in Heaven with his son, Robert L. Garcia; and his parents, Manuel A. and Maria B. Garcia. Manuel also honored his family and his country serving in the U.S. Army National Guard. Survivors are his loving wife of 48 years, Delia B. Garcia; sons, Manuel R. Garcia and wife Katherine, Daniel Garcia and wife Sophie, Michael Garcia and wife Jennifer; daughter, Linda L. Hernandez and husband Jose, all of San Marcos; and grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous neices and nephews. Visitation will begin on Thursday, December 29th from 4-7 p.m. at Los Angeles Funeral Home, 300 Cheatham St., San Marcos, Texas. Prayer service will be Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at the Los Angeles Funeral Chapel. Chapel services will be Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the Los Angeles Funeral Home. Interment will follow in St. James Catholic Cemetery in Gonzales, Texas. Serving as pallbearers

GARCIA

PRIMARIES: Congressional races draw several contendersContinued from page A1

drawn a total of five candidates for two positions. Incumdent District Attorney Heather McMinn will be opposed by Patricia Finch in the Republican primary, while three candidates are seeking the post being vacated by retiring Judge Bradley Peschel on the 25th District Court: Kevin Kold, Stephen Finch and Bill Old. Candidates can still file for places in county and local party primaries through Feb. 6. As of the first filing deadline on Dec. 19, a total of 15 candidates had filed for two congressional seats due to represent the region which includes Gonzales, DeWitt, Lavaca, Caldwell and Fayette counties. Incumbent Blake Farenthold has drawn one Republican and five Democratic chal-

lengers for his 27th Congressional District seat. Don Al Middlebrook of Louise opposes Farenthold in the Republican parimary, while Rose Meza Harrison of Corpus Christi, Ramiro Garza Jr. of Padre Island, Denise Saenz Blanchard of Brownsville, Anthony Troiani of Brownsville and Armando R. Villalobos of Brownsville are seeking the seat in the Democratic primary. In the newly-created 34th Congressional District, Murphy Adaide Junaid of Corpus Christi is the lone Democrat in the contest so far, while seven Republicans are seeking the seat: Jessica Puente Bradshaw of Brownsville, Adela Garza of Olmito, John Grunwald of Egypt, Paul B. Haring of Goliad, Trey Roberts of Rockport, Bill Tofte of Houston and Marc S. Young of Sealy.

BREAK-IN: Youth arrestedContinued from page A1

cers were dispatched to the Texaco, located at 1800 St. Joseph Street. While the officers were en route, a nearby highway patrolman responded and observed a suspect, who was wearing a red shirt, running toward the back of the store. He was carrying a case of beer. The door of the business had appeared

to have been tampered with, so the suspect was arrested. Before he was placed into a police vehicle, the subject briefly broke away from authorities, only to be re-apprehended and taken into custody. Taylor said the subject is a 16-year old male, who will be charged with burglary of a building and escape. The youth was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Seguin.

Travis Clyde Griffin III, age 63, of Seguin, passed away Thursday, December 22, 2011 in Seguin. Clyde was born on December 23, 1947 to Mr. and Mrs. Travis Clyde Griffin Jr. and Billie Jean (Hames) Griffin in Corpus Christi. His father and brother, Louie Griffin, precede him in death. Clyde is survived by his wife of 35 years, Ladell Billings-Griffin of Seguin; son, Travis Clyde Griffin IV of Seguin; daughter, Amanda Corinne Griffin and husband, Richard Hill, of Seguin; grandchildren, Richard Eugene Hill IV and Taylor Corinne Hill, both of Seguin; mother, Billie Jean Griffin of Smiley; Sisters, Melissa Jacobs and husband, The Reverend Matthew P. Jacobs, of Brenham and Wanda Guerrero of Smiley; brother, Robert L. Griffin and Gracie Flores of Victoria; numerous nieces, nephews and other loving family. A visitation will be held from 5:00PM to 8:30PM on Friday, December 30, 2011 at Finch Funeral Chapel in Nixon. Service is scheduled at 2:00 PM, Saturday, December 31, 2011 at Finch Funeral Chapel, Nixon. Chaplain Jeremy Roy will officiate. Interment will follow in the Griffin Cemetery, south of Smiley. If desired, memorial contributions may be made in Clydes name to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org. You are welcome to sign the online guest book at www. finchfuneralchapels.com. Arrangements with: Finch Funeral Chapel, LLC 308 East Third Street Nixon, Texas 78140 (830)5821521.

GRIFFIN

Gonzales Leo ClubCarnation $2.00 SaleJanuary 1st - January 30thFlowers will be delivered on Valentines Day to schools & anywhere in city limits. (No delivery to home residences) Order forms can be picked up at

The Gonzales Cannon NewspaperThe Gonzales Inquirer618 St. Paul 622 St. Paul

The Gonzales Chamber of Commerce414 St. Lawrence For more information email Lorrell Wright [email protected]

for First Friday Coffee - January 6, 2012 8:30a.m.-9:30a.m.

Join The Gonzales Cannon618 St. Paul 830-672-7100

For more information call Barbara Friedrich Main Street, 672-2815.

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In Our ViewThe CannonEDITORS NOTE: Dave Mundy is on mental vacation this week to recover from the humiliation of the Texans loss to the Colts. His understudy, Chesty Puller, will fill in until his return. If you didnt get exactly what you wanted for Christmas, dont feel bad. Youre in good company. I swear, you humans continue to befuddle me. You have all the advantages of a species with opposable thumbs (such as being able to pick up nachos with your fingers!), yet you do the dumbest things. Like any 2-year-old, I was up and at em early Christmas morning, all ready to get after whatever Santa Claus brought me. I had to wake Daddy up, since I couldnt jump high enough to reach the presents. Daddy put our Christmas tree on a table, up where I cant get at it. (Thats other thing I dont understand: Whats the point of bringing a bathroom indoors if you dont make it accessible?) Once he got moving and got a cup of coffee in him how can you humans drink that stuff? he moved over to the tree to dispense Santas bounty. I kept waiting for the Meow! that I knew would be mine. I asked Santa for my very own kittykat to play with this year, because all my old toys dont squeak and scream and bleed. Preferably a kittykat thats been de-clawed and de-fanged. Instead, Daddy set a box wrapped in paper in front of me. Like I said, Ill never understand how you humans came to be the dominant species on the planet. I ask for a cat to dismember, and you give me a box wrapped in colored paper with a bow. Joy to the world! The Old Woman thats Itty Bit, the cantankerous 17-year-old I live with was similarly perplexed with her gift. She just sat there wagging her tail, waiting for something that smells like food. Go ahead, Chesty, open it! Daddy told me. No one ever accused Daddy of having a whole lot of sense. I mentioned that humans have opposable thumbs chihuahuas do not. We have opposable natures instead. Eventually, I figured out that the bow moves, so I started chewing on that. The paper came loose. The top came off the box.


Can we call it Catmas?Dances with ChihuahuasDisgruntled ChihuahuaInside the box a pee pad. well, when you cant reach the tree ... No, no, no, not that! Daddy told me. Its your Santa suit! In short order, I was wearing this redvelvet suit with velcro and posing for pictures. Heres a clue for you humans: if you keep humiliating us dogs by making us wear funny costumes, eventually were going to revolt and reverse the roles. Laugh it up now, bald guy. Just waitll we take over. Ill make you wear a Cowboys jersey and take YOUR picture! As soon as Id posed for the obligatory photos thank God none of my friends is on Facebook! I went after the other presents Daddy set in front of me. Honestly, if hed just given me bows and paper, Id have enjoyed the whole process just as much. Okay, so the big beef-basted rawhide chew tastes good. Itty Bit immediately stole it from me. She showed no interest in the new rope toy. Neither did I. Daddys fingers are so much more mobile, and taste better. A pack of Mini Dingos. A T-shirt that reads The Chicks Dig Me. A new collar. He finally got to the last item. I know you wanted a kitty cat to play with, Daddy smiled. Here ya go. If there was a cat in that box, I figured it was dead. Turns out it was a fur-toy cat. I fixed daddy with my best YouveGOT-to-be-kidding-me stare, then bit down. The cat squealed. Okay, it doesnt bleed, and it doesnt fight back, but hey, why complain? I have a cat to fight. This was the bestest Christmas I ever had. Or at least better than my other one. I just hope Daddy doesnt mind when I invite our neighbor Mouse over for New Years. I figure Mouse will enjoy beating up a cat, too.

Chesty Puller

Preventing, or protecting fraud? Holder, liberals demonstrate hypocrisyOn Tuesday, Dec. 13, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder visited Austin to speak out against a wave of state voter identification laws like the new one in Texas. Holder and liberals claim that the voter ID laws could disenfranchise minority and lowincome voters. They complain that the new law will have a disproportionate impact on them and that the intent is to suppress voters who tend to support Democrats and liberals. Holder suggested that the new voter ID laws are unnecessary but was vague about what action the Justice Department plans to take against them, particularly in those states not covered by the Voting Rights Act. But there was irony in Holders visit. While he blasted Texas for passing a law that requires voters to show proper identification ... a photo ID was needed to attend his speech. Holder was also silent when asked why labor unions and other liberal organizations were not criticized when they require photo IDs for people to vote in their conventions. The right to vote and participate in an election is the most precious of rights in America, and it should be defended, protected, and guarded. Only qualified citizens should be allowed to vote. However, voter fraud

El ConservadorGeorge Rodriguez

George Rodriguez is a San Antonio resident and the first Hispanic in the nation to lead a Tea Party organization. He is a former official in the U.S. Justice Dept. during the Reagan Administration.

and intimidation were identified in the 2008 election and Holder did nothing to prosecute it. Starting with the Black Panthers who stood outside a voting poll and threatened people in Pennsylvania, to the falsified absentee ballots filed in Ohio, to votes cast by phantom voters who lived at vacant lots in Houston, the election was full of questionable activities. Holder and the Justice Department have refused to investigate and prosecute voter fraud, if liberals are involved. Even more incredible is that the NAACP has asked the United Nations to monitor the 2012 election to prevent voter suppression of minorities and the poor. The NAACP claims this is a human rights issue and is requesting U.N. observers. It is hard to believe that Americans would ask an organization like the U.N. Human Rights Commission that includes Cuba, China, and Sudan, to be objective observers in an American election. Are they kidding me?

College admissions: Applying while AsianTo check or not to check the Asian box? That is the pointed choice faced by Asian-American students applying to gain admission to what are supposed to be the most tolerant places on Earth, the nations colleges. The Associated Press ran a report on Asian students of mixed parentage checking white, if possible, on their applications to avoid outing themselves as Asians. The Princeton Review Student Advantage Guide counsels AsianAmerican students not to check the race box and warns against sending a photo. In a culture that makes so much of celebrating ethnic heritage, especially of racial minorities, and that values fairness above all, Asian-American students think that they need to hide their ethnicity because the

According to the U.S. Constitution, the states have the right to establish voter laws as long as they dont infringe on the rights of those eligible to vote. If a person is eligible to vote, they should register and provide proper ID when they go vote. Just as some voters are picked up and taken to vote, they should be taken to be registered and get their proper ID before the election. What is difficult about that? While Holder and others may accuse Texans of discriminating against minorities and the poor, they could be accused of being pro-fraud.

Rich LowryRich Lowry is editor of the National Review and a syndicated columnist for King Features Syndicate.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Billy Bob Low Chairman Randy Robinson, Vice Chairman Myrna McLeroy Mary Lou Philippus, Secretary Alice HermannDave Mundy - Editor & General Manager [email protected] Cedric Iglehart - News Editor [email protected] [email protected] Debbie Toliver - Advertising Director [email protected] GONZALES CANNON (USPS 001-390) is published weekly each Thursday by Gonzales Cannon Inc., 618 St. Paul Street, Gonzales, TX 78629. Periodicals Postage Paid at Gonzales, TX 78629. A one year subscription costs $22 in Gonzales County, $24 for out-of-county, and $30 for out-of-state. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Gonzales Cannon, PO Box E, Gonzales, TX 78629. An erroneous reflection upon the charactor, standing or reputation of any firm, person or corporation, which appears in the columns of this newspaper will be corrected upon due notice given to the publication at The Gonzales Cannon office. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Phone: (830) 672-7100. Fax: (830) 672-7111. Website:www.gonzalescannon.com.

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college admissions process is so unfair. If AfricanAmerican motorists fear that they will be pulled over by the cops for the phantom offense of Driving While Black, these kids worry about what will happen to them when Applying While Asian. Studies have demonstrated what every Asian parent and kid knows: Asians are discriminated against in the admissions process. The Center for Equal Opportunity, a think tank opposed to racial preferences, in a 2005 study looked at an in-state male applying to the University of Michigan who had no parental connection to the school. If he had a 1240 SAT score and a 3.2 GPA, he had a 92 percent chance of admission if

black and 88 percent if Latino. If white, he had only a 14 percent chance, and if Asian, a 10 percent chance. Thomas Espenshade, the Princeton University academic and co-author of the book No Longer Separate, Not Yet Equal, examined applicants to elite private schools with comparable grades, scores, athletic abilities and family histories. He concluded that whites were significantly more likely to get admitted than Asians. This accounts for what must be the first mass effort of a minority group to pass as white since Jim Crow. All of this is done in the name of a diversity of a crude, bean-counting sort. The private California Institute of Technology doesnt use quotas; its student body is 39 percent Asian. The University of California at Berkeley is forbidden by law from using quotas; its student body is more than 40 percent Asian. Only a bigot would believe that these schools are consequently worse learning environments, or

that they are places characterized by monochromatic, lock-step thinking because so many students share a broad-brush ethnic designation. Stephen Hsu, a professor of physics at the University of Oregon and an outspoken critic of current admission practices, laments that Asians seem strangely accepting of the unfair treatment of their children. The official Asian-American groups tend to support anti-Asian quotas because they are captives of liberal orthodoxy before all else. The Obama administrations misnamed Justice Department has joined with its wishfully named Education Department to urge schools to get creative in circumventing Supreme Court limits on affirmative action. Its not quite Asians need not apply, only that they should expect their ethnicity to be used against them should it become known to the authorities. Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review. (c) 2011 by King Features


Settling in with a new task and new partnerThe flight was blacked out most of the way and the pilot and crew all wore night vision goggles to operate. The flight was full, noisy and armed to the teeth. Jack and I were the last to board and would be the first off the flight once it set down. As we prepared for departure, we all squeezed in a little tighter as the last of the cargo was loaded. Two skids of cargo, backpacks, supplies and a whole bunch of soldiers were packed into the waiting and already running C-130. The crew checked the load and went through their preflight checklists. The troops I was traveling with were a mix of young and not so young faces. Some were apprehensive, some were asleep as soon as they settled in the webbing seats, most Dispatches from were checking equipment and Downrange trying to get as comfortable as possible. Just before we boarded, their platoon sergeant made sure all his troops were ready. Ammo was passed out, equipment checks, accountability, head counts, all went off without a hitch. He turned Jon Harris is an Army retiree, reto the platoon leader, a fairly serve City of Gonzales policeman and former deputy constable who is young 1st Lieutenant, and currently serving as a civilian miligave the thumbs up that they tary dog handler in Afghanistan. were good to go. This flight was clearly different than the other flights I had been on while in country here in Afghanistan. All the other flights had really been pretty laid back. The crew joked and everyone was pretty relaxed. Not this one. Everyone was all business going through memorized checks that had been practiced time and time again. I personally felt a little twinge of anxiousness. It was different than being scared, it was more a mental trip to a time years ago when I would have been going through the same thoughts and checks these young soldiers were. Anxious is probably the wrong word; exhilaration is closer to the mark. There is a poster that I have seen titled Rare View of the Inside of an Actual Can of Woop-Ass. Well, let me tell you. Here I was, standing in the middle of that very can. I feel sorry for whoever was going up against this group because this whole can was about to be opened. Jack was nervous. This was only my second flight with him and he was clearly bothered by the vibrations, noise, and all the activity going on around him. Being a fairly young dog, he clearly was not the old hat at flying my last dog had been. That would change more than we both knew. The rear cargo hatch closed with a loud hissing noise that startled Jack. He kept trying to pinpoint the location of the noise. With a dogs acute hearing, sense of smell and all, he was clearly on sensory overload. I did what I could to keep him calm and pretty much talked softly to him and stroked his head. The big engines powered up and it felt like the plane just jumped into the air. Two of the soldiers closest to us grabbed their rucksacks, stacked in between us, to keep them from falling on Jack as the plane pushed us all toward the rear as it climbed into the night sky. I noticed two crewmen intensely watching out the side windows located at their positions in the plane. They too were wearing NVGs. I asked the one closest to me what he was looking for. Bad people shooting at us, he answered in a rather matter of fact manner. His answer drove home the difference in this flight over the others I had been on. As we leveled off, the flight settled into a steady drone from the engines. The Platoon Leader and Platoon Sergeant were leaning close to each other talking about something and going over lists the young officer had in his hand. They were reading the papers by the red lenses of the lights attached to their helmets. Jack finally laid down, but never stopped leaning against my legs the entire flight. We arrived at 23:30 (11:30 p.m.) Christmas Eve and landed at a remote runway somewhere in the Paktika Province of Afghanistan, close to the Pakistan border. The landing was just as abrupt as the takeoff. Totally dark inside and out. There would be no bright landing lights tonight. The crewmen were again staring out the windows with their NVGs as we made a sharp turn and descended through the dark and toward the ground. You could hear loud noises and popping as the wheels and flaps went down. There was a general alertness now of everyone on board as we contacted the runway and the engines went into full reverse to stop the big aircraft rolling down the dark pavement. Within minutes we were stopped and the rear cargo hatch opened with that same hiss and a blast of 18-degree air. A forklift quickly unloaded the two skids of gear and cargo and was replaced by an airman with a red headlamp on. She motioned with hand signals for us to stand up and follow her, as the engines of the C-130 were still running, and hearing anything was impossible. As she turned around I saw she had her rifle slung across her back. We made our way to the passenger terminal and were ushered into the building through two sets of doors. Entering through the second set, you were greeted with a fully-lit room that was totally blacked out from outside view. Our ID cards were collected and checked, the method and system I cant mention due to OPSEC. I was cleared along with Jack and waited for my ride. After about an hour, I was loading our gear in a truck and taken to our new home. We have an 8 x 10 room. Basically it is a box, but it is clean and more importantly, heated. Ive been sleeping in a sleeping bag since July and this was my first night that my back would see a bed, not a great one but a bed just the same. The next morning, or really later that morning, I was awaken by the Kennelmaster and we walked to the showers. It was 05:00 in the morning and still about 18 degrees outside. The showers and restrooms are about one half mile away as is the dining facility. The Kennelmaster was an old friend of mine and I found out he had requested me to be sent to his location. He had retired as a senior NCO in the Special Forces. He was a sort of funny sight with his full white beard and bright red sweater he had on. I mentioned all he needed was a reindeer and he could be Santa Claus. He heard that a lot. I do need to correct something though. This Santa Claus worked out at the gym and looked like he could kick the stuffing out of anyone that did not like the presents he brought. Christmas Day I got settled in and made my box as homey as possible. I built some shelves out of a wooden pallet I dissembled for the wood as well as other things. I got a rug for the floor to keep the dust down and saw the Vet. Jack had a

In Your ViewThe Cannon

Page A5

Jon Harris

Another New Home

Jon Harris and his partner, Jack, settle into their latest home near the Pakistani border. The duo is tasked with the job of detecting narcotics for the military. (Courtesy Photo) mandatory vet check, which is normal when you bring a K-9 to a new post. I was given several briefings on procedures and then turned loose to do a lot of walking to find the lay of the land, so to speak. Internet was on top of the list, so I spent a good portion of Christmas getting that resolved. I was able to speak to my family in Harwood via Skype. It was great to hear them and talk to my son who is an Army Officer at Ft Hood. After the calls and several emails, I was informed I had a meeting with the area Provost Marshall. A Provost Marshall is the chief law enforcement officer in the region. My location fell under U.S. Army command so this was a U.S. Army Officer. Pleasantries were passed all around and he let me know of my new assignment. I had been expecting a position searching vehicles are an Entry Control Point. This is the normal position for a dog handler over here, whether it is searching for narcotics or explosives. This is what most, if not all of the handlers I worked with did. The Provost Marshall let me know very quickly that this assignment would be somewhat out of the ordinary. I was to be tasked to his office as would be doing unannounced searches region-wide, not just on the FOB I was staying at. In fact, I would not be doing searches here at all. I will be roving all over eastern Afghanistan. Ill have a security team assigned to me and we will fly into the Forward Operating Bases, Combat Operating Bases, Outposts, and anywhere else the need is to do surprise searches on vehicles, buildings, barracks, unit equipment, mail, luggage and all local national ( Afghan) facilities. We will be busy. Jack has already been issued extra equipment for ear and eye protection as we will be on Blackhawks and Chinook helicopters most of the time. Pop in, do our thing and then get the heck out of Dodge. Its going to be cool! From somewhere close to the Pakistani border (at least tonight), this has been a Dispatch from Downrange.

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The Cannon


New electronic portal available for blood donorsCannon News [email protected]

SAN ANTONIO Donatingforlife.org is a new electronic tool that makes donating blood easier. With a few clicks of a mouse, donors can set up a personal profile, keep track of their mini-physical results, search

Want to list your business here? Call Debbie at 830-672-7100

The Cannon Business DirectoryFeaturing Home-Grown Businesses123 Bright Street, [email protected] m-8953

for blood drives, schedule appointments, and redeem points for wellness rewards and other incentives. Donors have been asking for a tool like this, said Shari Miller, Vice President of Donor Recruitment at STBTC. We are so happy to be able to provide this resource for our donors and

make saving lives that much easier and convenient for them. Schedule your appointment to donate blood and save lives at one of the two following drives in Gonzales set for Thursday, Jan. 5: Memorial Hospital, 1110 Sara DeWitt Drive, 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.; and H-E-B, 424 St. Matthew St., 2:30-4:45 p.m.

All presenting donors through Feb. 29 will receive points to redeem for a T-shirt or wellness rewards. Visit southtexasblood.org/ donatingforlife to get started. Anyone 16 years old weighing 120 pounds (with a parental consent form, or at least 17 years old weighing 110 pounds, and in good general health can donate

blood. It is recommended to eat iron rich foods before donating and to drink plenty of fluids to keep the body hydrated. Donors must present photo ID, last four digits of their social security number and their birth date. Visit www.southtexasblood.org for more information.

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The Gonzales CannonDisplay Advertising DeadlinesThe Gonzales Cannon goes to press on Wednesday each week, with news rack distribution on Thursday and mail distribution on Friday. Placement order deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday for the following Thursdays edition. Package advertising (print and web) rates are available; ask for details. Deadline for first proofs and copy changes to existing advertisements is noon on Monday preceding publication. Final deadline for corrections for each weeks edition is 5 p.m. on Tuesday. To schedule your ad, contact Debbie at 830-672-7100.

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Business Gonzales delegates attendThursday, December 29, 2011 The Cannon

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Farm Bureau conventionAgriculture leaders from Gonzales County Farm Bureau participated as voting delegates recently at the 78th Texas Farm Bureau annual meeting Dec. 3-5 in Corpus Christi. They were: Allan and Betty Fink, Olen and Margie Malear , Ethel and Charles Rochester, Barbara Koricanek and John Raeke. Discussion of the latest agriculture issues, recognition of top county Farm Bureaus and individuals and evaluation of the organizations policies was the task for more than 1,050 delegates from 147 organized Farm Bureaus. County delegates voted on proposed

policy changes during the meetings business session. Farm Bureau policies reflect the needs of local farmers and ranchers and direct the states largest farm organization. Approved recommendations on national policies advance to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting to be held in January in Honolulu, HI. Addressing the delegates were Kenneth Dierschke of San Angelo, TFB president, and Vernie Glasson, TFB executive director. The business session covered the final day of the meeting. The last order of business was the election of the president, Kenneth Dierske.

SAN ANTONIO The South Texas Beef Cattle Short Course, presented by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Bexar Beef Cattle Committee, will be held on three consecutive Thursday evenings in January at Palo Alto Community College, 1400 W. Villaret in San Antonio. All short course instruction will be presented in Room 109 of Perdenales Hall. Each session will begin with registration at 6 p.m. and presentations starting at 6:30 p.m. Short course sessions will be on Jan. 12, 19 and 26. There is a $10 cost for each evenings session, and an RSVP is required for each evenings session. To RSVP, contact Angel Torres at the AgriLife Extension office for Bexar County at 210-4676575. There are continuing education units available for all sessions, and instruction will be provided by experts from AgriLife Extension, Texas

South Texas Beef Cattle course set for January in San AntonioA&M University, USDA and state comptrollers office, said Bryan Davis, AgriLife Extension agent, Bexar County. Weve chosen topics which we feel will be of the greatest general interest to beef cattle producers in this region. Davis said either continuing education units or Beef Quality Assurance credits are available for session attendance. The Jan. 12 session will include a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency update and U.S. Farm Bill update from 6:30 7:30 p.m., followed by a presentation on forage management in drought conditions from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Two general continuing education units are available for this session. An RSVP for this session is required by Jan. 10. The Jan. 19 session will be a beef cattle marketing update from 6:30-7:30 p.m., followed by a presentation on bovine reproductive dis-

Texas Farm Bureau Annual Meeting

Delegates from the Gonzales County Farm Bureau recently attended the 78th Texas Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, held Dec. 3-5 in Corpus Christi. Pictured are (front row, from left) Margie Malaer, Barbara Koricanek, Betty Fink, Ethel Rochester, (second row) Olen Malaer, John Raeke, Allan Fink and Charles Rochester. (Courtesy photo)

Cal Maine Foods releases quarterly financial resultsJACKSON, Miss. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. has announced results for the second quarter and six months ended Nov. 26, 2011. Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 were $290.4 million compared with net sales of $234.5 million for the same quarter of fiscal 2011. The Company reported net income of $23.3 million, or $0.97 per basic share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared with net income of $15.2 million, or $0.64 per basic share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2011. For the first six months of fiscal 2012, net sales were $534.2 million compared with net sales of $424.9 million for the prioryear period. The Company reported net income of $26.4 million, or $1.11 per basic share, for the first half of fiscal 2012 compared with net income of $19.9 million, or $0.84 per basic share, for the year-earlier period. Dolph Baker, president and chief executive officer of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., stated, We are pleased with our results for the second quarter and the favorable trends in Cal-Maines business through the first

eases from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Two general continuing education units are available for this session. An RSVP is required by Jan. 17. The Jan. 26 session will consist of a 6:30-7:30 p.m. presentation on production considerations for rebuilding a cow herd, followed by a 7:30-8:30 p.m. presentation on bovine resistance to de-wormers. Two general continuing education units or two Beef Quality Assurance credits are available for this session. An RSVP is required by Jan. 24. Drought, production cost increases and the economy have all had an impact on the beef cattle industry, Davis said. With these and other challenges, we want to give producers a useful variety of practical and applicable research-based information to help get them through these challenging times. We hope those involved in the industry will take advantage of this educational opportunity.

Nixon eatery is one of the countys hidden treasuresAround the Chamber Office

half of fiscal 2012. Our higher sales reflect strong seasonal retail demand for eggs as well as higher average selling prices. We typically sell more eggs around the holidays and demand has been very good this fall with total dozen eggs sold up six percent compared with the same period last year. Sales of specialty eggs, which have a higher selling price, accounted for approximately 23 percent of shell egg revenue for the quarter and over 16 percent of total dozens sold. Value-added specialty eggs include nutritionally-enhanced, organic and cage free eggs, and represent a rapidly growing segment of the shell egg market as these products offer alternative choices for consumers with special preferences. Our production costs have been materially affected by our feed costs, which were up 20 percent compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Prices for corn and soybean meal, our primary feed ingredients, have continued to escalate this fiscal year. However, we are pleased with the efficiency of our operations and our ability to absorb these higher costs and improve our profitability for the quarter.

We visited Main Drug Store & Gifts last week, doing some of our annual Christmas shopping in Nixon and found lots of goodies, even Christmas sales, which is a good thing too. After our shopping trip, we asked about a place to eat and found The Tea Cup at 219 North Nixon Avenue, just up the street from Main Drug. It was a real jewel. Maria and Frank Gonzales moved to Westhoff several years ago, and bought some acreage. She found time on her hands after a time and started looking for something to do. She found it in Nixon and opened up just after Thanksgiving, serving real American breakfast with homemade pancakes and all the fixins, assisted by Dora Croft and Shelby McGlothin, starting at 7 a.m., then sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts until 4:30 p.m. The food was good, the service was great and the surroundings were a real treat. Shes open Monday through Friday. The shop is decorated in a Victorian theme, with teapots decorating the tables throughout and a fireplace near the front door. Maria offers seven kinds of sandwiches (chicken salad is a specialty), a soup of the day, along with salads, chili dogs and home-

Barbara HandBarbara Hand is the Executive Director of the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce.

Gonzales Co. DeedsGonzales County Courthouse Deeds December 1-31 Migl, Frank H. and Migl, Elrose S. to Forest Oil Corp, o/l, 421.818 Ac A Moser A-341, J Criswell A-152 & S. Hanes A-267. Coulter, Thomas Ward, Jr and Coulter, Patsy A. to Eagle Ford Hunter Resources, Inc and Sharon Hunter Resources, Inc. (FKA), o/l, 20.471 Ac T Barnes A-112. Pilat, Joseph and Pilat, Linda to Eagle Ford Hunter Resources, Inc. and Sharon Hunter Resources, Inc. (FKA), o/l, 1.91 Ac T Barnes A-112. Orsak, Richard and Orsak, Terri to Eagle Ford Hunter Resources, Inc. and Sharon Hunter Resources, Inc. (FKA), o/l, 5.6609 Ac T Barnes A-112. Kalina, Ellis F. to Eagle Ford Hunter Resources, Inc. and Sharon Hunter Resources, Inc. (FKA), o/l, 1.792 Ac T Barnes A-112. Frazier, Violet to Cowan, Robert L. and Cowan, Linnea D., w/d, Lt. 2, Blk. A, Contour Terrace, Town of Gonzales. Pirkle, Beverly Jean and Pirkle, Stephen O. to Mayo, Robert W., w/d, 20.79 Ac S. Hendricks A-261. Berger, Wayne to Marek, Steven, w/d, Pt. Lt. 4 & 5, Blk. 28, Orig. Inner Town of Gonzales. Gault, James Edwin to Gault, William (Trustee), Bitner, Sandra (Trustee) and Gault, James Edwin Irrevocable Trust, w/d, 102.2 Ac J Bird A-60 & A-92, P Pate A-386 (Gonzales & DeWitt Co.) Salmon, Richard Roy to Mullins, Alise Annette, w/d, Pt. Lt. 1, Blk. 16 Orig. Inner Town of Gonzales. True, Troy Neil to EOG Resources Inc., o/l, 146.812 AC J Humphrey A-266 & J Jones A-301.

made cakes, cookies and pies. If thats not enough, finish off your meal with Blue Bell Ice Cream. Coming home, we stopped by two new historical markers that were just installed on Hwy. 80 near Leesville. This was a special project of Donald Hoffman, Nixon historian, who researched the information. One is for the Gonzales-San Antonio Road, which was ordered surveyed by Green DeWitt, shortly after he put the capital of his colony in Gonzales. Byrd Lockhart surveyed the 80-mile long road, which opened in 1827 and went past three watering holes. The second marker is for the 1835 attack at Sandies Water Hole, where a party of 13 French and Mexican traders was ambushed by Comanches while going from Natchitoches, LA. to Mexico. All died. DeWitt had built a fort in Gonzales and asked for soldiers and a cannon to discourage these attacks, but he didnt

get much help. The attacks continued into Texas Statehood. The highway department was asked to do something with U.S. 183 and they will, starting in 2012, so plan on driving ever so carefully and slowly toward Cuero from 2012 until into the spring of 2013, as the work will last that long. The chamber met with John Raeke presiding over his last meeting with retiring directors Peggy Barnett, Josh Gray, John Lamprecht and Terry Towns. They will be presented at the chamber banquet on Jan. 27 The David B. Walshak Lifetime Achievement Award and Community Service Award nominations are due in the office on Dec. 29 by 4 p.m. Be sure and listen Thursday morning at 8:15 to KCTI to hear the winners of the Spend Bucks to Win Bucks drawn. As we close 2010, one of the driest years on record, the rains came. We hope this is a good omen for 2012. The bluebonnet plants are coming up everywhere in my front yard. Hope the highways are lined with them. The Chamber office and Old Jail Museum will be closed on Monday, Jan. 2. Central Texas Cutters will be at the J. B. Wells Park Dec. 28-31.

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Page A8

2011: Drought, wildfires, oil boom top storiesContinued from page A1

The Year In ReviewThe Cannonring. The raid resulted in 20 people being issued citations for cruelty to animals and 15 others incarcerated. February In a 3-2 vote, the Gonzales City Council fired Gonzales City Manager David Huseman, citing lack of communication as one of the reasons. The session was made public at the request of Huseman, who received several statements of support from local residents. Huseman was hired by the city in March 2008. Approximately 150 people were in attendance for the opening of the new cafeteria on the Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School Districts middle school campus. An arctic front moved through the area on Feb. 4, offering most local youngsters their first-ever look at real snow. District Judge Dwight Peschel denied bond for a Gonzales County man charged with five separate felonies. James DuBose, 24, was facing one count of aggravated assault on a public servant, two counts of assault with bodily injury to a family member/house member (two within 12 months), and two counts of attempt to take a weapon from an officer. Area resident Connor Morgan Caraway had the Reserve Champion steer at the 2011 San Antonio Junior Livestock Show. A house fire claimed the life of a Nixon man at his residence, located one block away from US Highway 87 near Smiley. Johnnie Edward Cook Sr. died in an early morning blaze that authorities ruled as accidental. March Former Gonzales City Councilman Tillman Russell Grant and former city council candidate Rev. Charles Roaches were indicted by a grand jury on several counts of providing false information on application for early voting. The new Sam and Sally Glass Poultry Diagnostic facility in Gonzales was dedicated in a ribbon-


ago revealed at the bottom of lakes and reservoirs. The droughts impact is so dramatic that will likely be felt long after it ends since ranchers were forced to sell off large portions of their herds early, which is likely to raise beef prices by reducing future supplies. The third biggest story will be ongoing for several years, but it made great strides in 2011. The search for oil and natural gas in the Eagle Ford Shale (in other words, earth) exploded this year. According to a study done by the University of Texas-San Antonio, play in the shale is already accounting for roughly six percent of the Gross Regional Product for the 24-county area it covers. It creates close to $1.3 billion of gross state product impact, supports 12,601 full-time jobs, and adds $2.9 billion in total economic output. The Texas Railroad Commission, the state agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, has issued nearly 900 drilling permits in our area since the beginning of the year. That number includes 358 in Gonzales County, 351 in DeWitt, 77 in Caldwell, 65 in Lavaca and 32 in Fayette. The following in a month-to-month summary of what else made our area news in 2011: January Ethan Wayne Stump became the first baby born in the New Year in Gonzales County when he arrived on Jan. 1 at 1:15 a.m. The 8-pound, 5-ounce bundle of joy was 19 inches long with a head full of hair. He is the son of Mari Kathrin and Stephen Cody Stump. The City of Gonzales announced the signing of 10-year contract, naming J.B. Wells as the new home for the Spring Break Youth Challenge Rodeo. Joseph Jay Lewis was selected as the next police chief for the City of Cuero. The Gonzales County Sheriffs Office was part of a joint task force that broke up an active cockfighting

Weather ... or not

The first snowfall in years visited the Gonzales region in early February, but hopes that a tropical storm system would help alleviate drought conditions withered when Tropical Storm Don (right) delivered very little rain and fizzled rapidly as it moved into northeastern Mexico. (Staff and courtesy photos) cutting ceremony. The ate an estimated $5.1 mil- Keep Texas Beautiful and ing its doors after 41 years 2,950-square-foot, state- lion in capital investment the Texas Department of of operation. of-the-art facility expanded for the City of Cueros Transportation. Only 10 The Gonzales City the poultry testing space economy. cities statewide received Council unanimously apand capacity of the preApril the award, which includes proved the appointment existing Texas Veterinary The Gonzales Memorial $90,000 to construct and of Diedra Voigt to serve as Medical Diagnostic Labo- Museum celebrated its 75th maintain a landscaping the citys municipal judge. ratory, which has operated birthday with a reception project along a state right- Voigt, who was elected Jusin Gonzales since 1992. honoring past members of-way. tice of Peace for Gonzales Gonzales Police Of- of the Gonzales Museum May County Precinct One seven ficer Doug Mundine was Board, which oversees the A lease agreement for months earlier, replaced recognized for heroic ac- city-owned facility. The Lynn Theater in Gon- Judge Gary J. Schroeder. tions during a house fire. A teenage boy from De- zales was finalized between Residents of Nixon and Mundine, who was the first Witt County was arrested Cal Collins and the Gonza- Smiley lined the streets responder on the scene, en- after attacking and injur- les Economic Development to cheer for six buses of tered the burning structure ing Yoakum police chief Corporation (GEDC). Col- Wounded Warriors as they and helped an elderly man Arthur Rogers following lins agreed to pay GEDC passed through on their out to safety. a hearing in municipal $5,000 monthly, with the way to an annual family Officials with the Profes- court. Rogers received nine option to purchase the outing in Port OConnor as sional Bull Riders and DVS stitches over his left eye af- building for its appraised a part of Armed Forces Day Productions announced ter he was assaulted by the value, $225,000. The the- activities. the return of PBR Bull Rid- youngster, who had just ater was foreclosed on June ing to Gonzales. The event, been fined for truancy. when Collins, who purBull rider Zach Miles of which featured some of the A suspect in the shoot- chased it in 2009, could not Gonzales was selected to worlds top bull riders, was ing of a Gonzales man repay his loan from GEDC. represent Bloomer Trailscheduled to take place July turned himself in. Lajuane Gonzales City Council ers on their national high 9 at the J.B. Wells Rodeo Cantrell Clark, 35 of Gon- formally accepted the res- school rodeo team. Miles Arena. zales, was charged with ignation of longtime mu- won the 2010 Professional A preliminary autopsy aggravated assault with a nicipal court judge Gary Bull Riders Association report determined that deadly weapon on Eddie J. Schroeder after a citizen World Finals. Gonzales native Adam Bernard Fletcher, who was raised questions about The Gonzales County Brad Kittel, 24, died from shot twice in the chest. Schroeders residency. Sheriff s Office arrested accidental drowning. His Bonnie Chessher beActing on a tip, the two Houston men charged body was found in the river came the Mayor of Nixon, Gonzales County Sheriff s with multiple counts of Seine in a suburb of Paris making her the first ever Office apprehended a man burglary and theft. Silvino in the western Paris suburb female mayor in Gonzales wanted in connection with Tobias Castillo, 29, and of Neuilly. County. She was appointed the shooting of a Kings- Mario Moreno Alvarado, Gov. Rick Perry an- to the position by the Nix- bury woman. Larry Lee 29, were also charged with nounced the state was in- on City Council to replace Dieken, 45, was taken into unlawful possession of a vesting $360,000 through her husband, Don, who custody after he was found firearm by a felon. The arthe Texas Enterprise Fund had been suffering from sleeping under a carport in rest of the two men, who in idX Corp. for the cre- poor health. the Leesville area. were believed to be conation of a manufacturing The City of Moulton Ruby Dickerson, owner nected to a Mexican drug facility in Cuero. The in- was the winner of the of the White Leghorn Cafe cartel, cleared a number of vestment was expected to Governors Community in Westhoff, announced burglaries and thefts in sevcreate 125 jobs and gener- Achievement Award from the business would be clos2011, Page A9

2011: A Year of Wildfires

As the Drought of 2011 worsened through summer, outbreaks of wildfires happened in several areas around the region, including just north of Gonzales along Harwood Road in August (left). During the Labor Day weekend, worst-case scenarios were realized as a string of fires erupted near Delhi (center) and Bastrop (right), resulting in millions of dollars in damage and two deaths. (Staff and courtesy photos)

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2011: Top stories of yearContinued from page A8

The Year In ReviewThe Cannonzales to help the community celebrate the 50th anniversary of St. James Catholic Church in a special mass. The event also included parishioners of Sacred Heart Church in Gonzales and St. Patricks Church in Waelder. Yoakum city manager Calvin Cook retired from his post. After 43 years of service to the City of Yoakum in some capacity, Cook ended his 7 1/2-year tenure as city manager. Former Nixon City Councilman Auvye Trammell was sentenced to spend a year and a half in federal prison for his role in a drugrunning operation, which transported marijuana from Laredo to Nixon. August Emotions ran high during a Waelder City Council meeting after it was learned that Councilwoman Becky Ayala would not be allowed to attend due to fallout from her being charged with abuse of official capacity earlier that morning. Because of the criminal charges levied against her, Waelder Mayor Roy Tovar suspended Ayala from her duties until the legal situation was resolved. Four area schools were rated academically unacceptable in the 2011 Texas Education Agency accountability ratings. Gonzales and Luling high schools, Luling Junior High, and the Waelder ISD school system all received the low marking. Martin Rosas of Gonzales was found dead in a ditch near the corner of Henry and Badger Streets. Police said there were no signs of foul play and no visible wounds on Rosas body. The City of Gonzales announced the termination of Billy Malaer in connection with its investigation into missing funds. Malaer had served as the citys Director of Community Services. Allen Barnes was named the new city manager of Gonzales, replacing David Huseman. Barnes was one of over 50 people who applied for the job. Former Yoakum city manager Al Veselka assumed his duties again as the interim city manager following the retirement of Calvin Cook. Officials from H-E-B, the City of Gonzales and Gonzales County were on hand for the groundbreaking of the companys new store in Gonzales. The new 53,000-square foot facility will be located at the corner of Church Street and Sarah DeWitt Drive. Firefighters from several area fire departments, as well as the National Forest Service, battled three very nasty blazes north of Gonzales that left several acres blackened and the Southern Pacific rail line near County Road 237 damaged. Officials with the annual Texas Independence Relay, hosted in the City of Gonzales every March since 2008, announced they would be moving the race to Bastrop. September A team of United States Marshals arrested John Walpole in Smiley. Walpole had a federal warrant issued for him in June, charging him with a Supervised Release (parole) violation. The Moulton City Council voted to terminate municipal judge Fred Nieto, Jr., who also serves as the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 of Lavaca County. Nieto was placed on unpaid administrative leave by the city a few weeks prior after it was confirmed by 25th Judicial District Attorney Heather McMinn that her office was working with the Texas Rangers to investigate the business activities of Nietos now-defunct auto sales company. Stage 2 water restrictions were officially put into effect for the City of Gonzales as part of the citys drought contingency plan. The City of Luling held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new animal shelter. The Luling Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) led the fund-raising effort. October A third employee of the City of Gonzales, Independence Golf Course manager Ricky Bazan, was fired as part of the citys investigation into missing funds. The Luling Independent School District Board of Trustees named acting superintendent Marc Puig as the lone finalist for the superintendents job. Puig was named to act in the job after the board voted 5-2 to dismiss superintendent David Davis in July. November The Gonzales City Council rejected a citizens

Page A9

eral area counties including Gonzales, Caldwell, Fayette, Lavaca and Colorado. Loni Lester of Gonzales was named All-Around Cowgirl at the Texas High School Rodeo Association Finals. Riding her 12-year old mare, Rip, Lester used a state record run of 19.721 seconds in the last round of poles to propel her to the honor. The Cannon officially named Mark Lube as its new full-time Sports Editor. Richard Green stepped down as the chairman of the Gonzales County Republican Party. Ray Hause of Cost was appointed to fill the remainder of Greens unexpired term. Former Gonzales County Precinct 3 deputy constable Jon Harris announced he would be leaving his job as a Gonzales reserve officer to work as a civilian dog handler for a government contractor in Afghanistan. Harris is a combat veteran who retired as a senior Army NCO 14 years ago before getting into law enforcement. The engineering firm LNV gave a report to the Gonzales City Council which stated the citys water plant was in dire need of repair. The cost of the refurbishing was estimated at $6 million. July Two men were arrested following an early-morning shooting which led to a narcotics arrest as well. Shots were fired at a house on the 500 block of Hopkins street in Gonzales and the alleged shooter was Christopher Jerome Espinosa, 22, of Gonzales, who was charged with deadly conduct, a third degree felony. Police also found several forms of illegal narcotics, including cocaine and marijuana, and a stash of cash. Also arrested was Randon Romero, 26, of Gonzales, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance. Romero was on probation at the time for burglary charges. A City of Gonzales employee was terminated in connection with an investigation into money missing from the citys Parks and Recreations Account, specifically from J.B. Wells Arena. The Archbishop of San Antonio, Rev. Gustavo Garcia-Siller, D.D., visited Gon-

Shale oil gives economic boost to area

The development of the Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas formation has fueled the economic boom across the region, beginning with seismic mapping work (above) near Cost and drilling rigs (left) near Shiner. (Staff and courtesy photos)

petition calling for a repeal of the citys controversial garage sales ordinance. The Yoakum City Council filled an open vacancy in the citys administration by hiring Kevin Coleman as its new city manager. News Editor Nikki Maxwell announced she was leaving The Cannon to take the post managing the City of Lulings Main Street program. She was replaced by part-time staff writer Cedric Iglehart. Voters in the City of Smiley gave approval to a local-option proposal allowing the sale of liquor in the city. The final margin was 35 in favor of the proposition, with 20 opposed. The Shiner Comanche Marching Band finished second at the UIL Marching Band Championships, held at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The Luling Eagle Band also qualified for the state championships, but failed to advance to the finals. Authorities and residents of Gonzales began assessing damage and cleaning up debris after

powerful winds from a severe thunderstorm struck the city shortly before lunchtime. Power lines were downed by flying tree branches and the roofs of a number of buildings sustained damage. December The City of Nixon hired patrolman Mike Villarreal of the Nixon Police Department as its code compliance officer. During his first three days, 10 notices were issued for excessive weeds and high grass, abandoned cars, junk (defined as salvage), and mobile homes without skirting. Former Waelder Police Chief Larry Stamps filed a lawsuit against his former employer and two other parties in regards to last years dismissal from his post. The suit was filed in the 25th Judicial District Court in Gonzales and accuses the City of Waelder of wrongful termination, discriminatory employment practices, constitutional violations and breach of contract. The Gonzales City Council satisfied the objections of a citizens group by amend-

ing the citys garage-sale ordinance. A man who was accused of stabbing two people in Gonzales was released on $50,000 bond. Gregory Fonseca, 41 of Gonzales, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault after being out on parole from a 60-year prison sentence stemming from his murder conviction in a 1985 stabbing. Outrage was widespread in Gonzales after the accused killer of a local man was released on $50,000 bond. Tyrone Milton Mitchell, 36 of Gonzales, who was charged with murder in the shooting death of Dyron James Green, was arraigned and released after posting that bond one day after the incident took place. GVTC announced plans to invest $7 million to expand its fiber optics network into the city of Gonzales to make it part of the five percent of communities its size around the country with fiber optics. Construction is underway and the company expects to begin connecting customers by July 2012.

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