Volume 64, Number 13
Azle News
Wednesday, September Wednesday, September 9, 9, 2015 2015
THE
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City wins beauty award Page 3A
Almanac predicts our winter Page 1B
Your guide to
STING FLING 2015
Sting Fling 2015 Inside This Issue
Wednesda y Septemb er 9, 201 5 SPECIAL SUPPLEM ENT
Azle New
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Honoring a Fallen Comrade Azle police took part in a statewide effort to honor fallen Houston Police Officer Darren Goforth Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. by displaying the flashing red and blue lights on their patrol vehicles. The Azle Police Department did so atop the highly visible Loop 344 bridge across SH 199 known locally as “the Ski Jump.” During the one-minute display of respect, the officers gathered near the center of the bridge in salute to the fallen officer. Motorists on the highway below honked in support. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
MORE ‘BACK THE BLUE’ PHOTOS ON PAGE 2A!
Reno gunfi re incidents raise question Currently there are no regulations about discharging firearms anywhere in town BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN The right to bear arms is one vehemently defended by many – if not most – Texans. But gunfi re in a couple of Reno neighborhoods has some residents on edge. While there is an ordinance on the books governing subdivisions located in unincorporated portions of Parker
County, the city of Reno has no ordinance of any kind related to the discharge of a fi rearm, according to Reno Mayor Lynda Stokes. Precinct One Commissioner George Conley said the county ordinance – which requires a minimum of 10 acres in order for shooting to take place – is of no affect inside any municipality.
A gun rights advocate herself, day time. One neighbor described “thousands Stokes says it’s something city offi - “It’s scaring school offi cials, scar- of rounds” being fi red some days – cials must look at seriously in light of ing the children,” Stokes said. “We got some from AK47s. Livestock has been one of the gentlemen to quit.” recent events. killed, and bullet holes discovered in Over on Miller Road, neighbors say outbuildings on adjacent properties, groups of men – at least some of which the neighbor alleged. Gunfi re One of those situations involves two they believe are volunteer fi refi ghters Stokes conceded that on Friday evemen who live near Reno Elementary for the Briar-Reno VFD – are shooting who have been shooting during the at a firing range on private property. PLEASE SEE GUNFIRE, PAGE 3A.
Man who shot at deputies killed
Another Lovely Day Ends on EML
BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN Court, off Highland Circle about halfAn armed man who repeatedly way between Springtown and Azle, called the Parker County Sheriff’s Of- dispatchers repeatedly asked the man fi ce demanding to speak to deputies to surrender peacefully. was killed after he fi red at deputies Instead, Lanier threatened to kill “the fi rst cop I see” and made deFriday night, Sept. 4. The dead man has been identifi ed mands before ceasing all communicaas Sully Joe Lanier, 36, by the Tarrant tions with authorities. County Medical Examiner’s Offi ce, Lanier exited the home and charged and his cause of death ruled a high- at deputies, ignoring orders to get on the ground. velocity gunshot wound of the neck. He continued advancing toward According to a press release from Sheriff Larry Fowler, the incident deputies, fi ring an AR15 rifl e fi ve started about 10:30 p.m. when Lanier times in their direction. Sheriff’s deputies returned fi re, began repeatedly calling the Sheriff’s telecommunications center, demand- striking the suspect in the neck. They ing to speak to deputies before hang- immediately secured the area and ing up. He specifi cally told dispatch- called for paramedics. Lanier died at the scene. ers he had a gun. At the request of PCSO, the Texas When deputies arrived at Lanier’s location in the 100 block of Couch Rangers are investigating the incident.
‘Monster’ sentenced to 60 years in prison Two others awaiting trial BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN A monster will spend the next 60 years in prison for the role he played in the sadistic torture and murder of a man in the 6100 block of Big Wood Court in July 2012. Staten William “Monster” Corbett was sentenced Sept. 3, to 60 years for murder and 20 years for tampering with evidence (corpse) related to the death of Earnest Lackey. Corbett was convicted of both crimes in May. Sentencing was delayed in order for a pre-sentencing investigation (PSI) to be completed. Judge Scott Wisch ordered the sen-
tences. The trial in the 372nd District Court was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Art Clayton and Lisa Callaghan. During the trial, the jury heard evidence that Corbett, his co-defendants Ronnie Wayne Freeman and Jimmy “Jimbo” Lee Riddle, and several witnesses, including the victim, consumed methamphetamine and gathered at Freeman’s trailer off Tenderfoot Trail one night in early July 2012. Lackey, claiming to be a member of Amid clouds that threatened to storm but changed their minds, the sunset over Eagle Mountain Lake Sept. 6 seemed to say farewell to summer. This shot was captured from a private residence on Park Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman PLEASE SEE 60, PAGE 4A. Road near Twin Points.
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25 Years Ago In September 1990, the offi cial census said that Azle’s population boomed in 10 years – from 5,822 residents in 1980 to 8,783 in 1990.
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